Ficus ID please

[Shane Martin]

Hi everyone,
Had a stack of these pop up in pots last summer, and wondered if I could get help to an ID. These sample leaves have hardened off and would be 10cms long. I potted a couple up as mini's and have easily reduced the leaves to a couple of cms so far.
Thanks

Ficus for ID.jpg

Ficus leaf front.jpg

ficus leaf back.jpg

[Shane Martin]

[Ash]

Hi Shane, They look like either Ficus rubiginosa or Ficus macrophylla seedlings. When they get a bit bigger they will be easier to ID for certain. The leaves of F. macrophylla change a bit as bonsai so it is not as easy to identify as a big tree. Also F. rubiginosa seems infinitely variable. hope this helps, Ash

[Shane Martin]

Hi Shane, They look like either Ficus rubiginosa or Ficus macrophylla seedlings. When they get a bit bigger they will be easier to ID for certain. The leaves of F. macrophylla change a bit as bonsai so it is not as easy to identify as a big tree. Also F. rubiginosa seems infinitely variable. hope this helps, Ash

Hi Ash, was hoping you'd chime in... I have F. Rubiginosa/ Port Jackson here in mature bonsai as well as young cuttings and their leaf is much different in shape texture and colour. A much thicker firm smooth really dark green leaf as opposed to these seedlings being a wider base down to a point.... where as the PJ's have a more blunt tip.... does that make sense? I will take some pics of them tomorrow as a comparison mate. Thanks

[Ash]

Then they are probably Ficus macrophylla seedlings. I always thought My Ficus Methuselah was a F. rubigionsa but a cutting allowed to mature suggests it is Ficus macrophylla. Ficus rubigionsa is a bit of a hodge-podge morphologically. Either way - bonsai the little buggers. Ash

[Shane Martin]

Then they are probably Ficus macrophylla seedlings. I always thought My Ficus Methuselah was a F. rubigionsa but a cutting allowed to mature suggests it is Ficus macrophylla. Ficus rubigionsa is a bit of a hodge-podge morphologically. Either way - bonsai the little buggers. Ash

Their characteristics aren't as appealing to me as the PJ's Ash, so might chuck these in the ground and see what happens. I might have a change of heart later down the track....