[I.D] Weird Fig leaves' colour!

[kvan64]

Hi, I got this for $16. It didn't look like a fig at all. I did a chop and now the new growth looks like of a fig but the colour doesn't. Could some1 help ID this please?
Thanks
DK

[Jamie]

hi DK,

If it is a fig it would possibly be ficus virens, need a closer look at a mature leaf. for $12 that is a great little buy!!! the base is good and you have chopped it well to be on its way of bonsai!

Jamie

[buddaboy]

Could be one of the Lillypillies?
Buddaboy

[kvan64]

Could be one of the Lillypillies?
Buddaboy

But it has aerial roots though!

[Taffy]

If it is a fig (white latex sap?), I'm not so sure about it being a Virens. Ficus Virens (White Fig) is deciduous and in Brisbane it should have lost it's leaves by now. I have two, and although the leaves are still hanging on, they are yellow and if you touch them they drop off. Through experience with my own trees, if I remove all those leaves, it will stay bare until the weather warms up a bit more before sending out new growth.

Ficus Superba also puts out red growth - but again, that is also a deciduous Fig. Although, the Superba I have here lost all it's leaves a few weeks ago, and is now putting out new growth (and yes, they are red - I've just been outside to have a look).

Interesting note: In another topic (seeds, I think) someone mentioned seeds of a 'Strangler' Fig. Superba is also called a 'Strangler' - along with Watkinsiana and quite a few others.

[Pup]

Possibly a Ficus infectoria, white fig it is one of the few deciduous, Ficus. I have said it is not always possible to identify just from the leaf, but this one shows the colour of new growth like the one I had.
The one I had a few years back, did not like the cold, so I sold it on.
The person I got it from bought it from a Queensland grower as a Banyan fig. They also have the little white dimples on the bark as yours does.

Cheers Pup

Edit, sorry Tman did not see your post till after I had posted mine. The one tree since that has survived was Identified, as being infectoria by Lindsay Bebb last year.

He was impressed by the leaf reduction attained by the owner.

[NathanM]

I've got one that I purchased labeled as a ficus virens. Leaves look very similar to that, as does the bark. It didn't lose it's leaves though. has been growing strongly.

[Jake]

it does look like a lillypilly a bit, do u have any other pics of the leaves closer? could be a ficus virens cant really tell
nice buy by the way!!!

[kvan64]

it does look like a lillypilly a bit, do u have any other pics of the leaves closer? could be a ficus virens cant really tell
nice buy by the way!!!

I just took this picture today. The leaves have started to mature. I hope that this is close up enough (My camera phone won't do beter).

[Taffy]

Jake, the bark looks like Ficus Virens, the leaf shape and texture looks like Virens - so I suspect it probably is a Virens. I notice you have it behind plastic sheeting. Does that extend over the top as well? If so, that could account for all the brighter red leaves than would normally be seen if kept outside in full sun. The plastic sheeting would be blocking out a portion of the sun's rays and result in slightly darker conditions. In bright daylight and full sun, the leaves would more quickly convert to the standard green.
The ones that I have do put out a paler red leaf but within a few days they begin to change colour. A week or so and they are fully green.

[kvan64]

Actually I got a few ficus Virens (white figs). They are just not the same! There is a lot of sunlight in the greenhouse. The ficus virens do change colour a lot quicker. If you look at the leaves carefully, they are different from those of virens in some ways.

[Joel]

F. infectoria is the old name for F. virens. It has been renamed.

Im not sure what this is, but i think it might be F. superba var japonica. Check this photo out on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29318418@N07/3487657103

Joel

*EDIT* Cant be F. virens as the petiole is too short. Might be worth checking out F. ingens as its new leaves are red. Doubt it is though.

[kvan64]

Thanks Joel. The buds look a bit different but the leaves look quite similar. It's the closest thing posted so far!

[senseijames]

could be a Ficus superba var. henneana

[Taffy]

Here are a few photos of my Superba. I got this one from Fairhill Native Nursery at Yandina, so it isn't the Japonica var:

SuperbaA.jpg

SuperbaB.jpg

SuperbaC.jpg

SuperbaE.jpg

SuperbaF.jpg

Maybe these might help.