Woody > Ficus > Ficus sycomorus > Ficus sycomorus
Ficus sycomorus
Origin: Ficus sycomorus is a tropical semi-evergreen tree native to Africa. It’s natural distribution in Africa is wide, spreading from Madagascar to the Arabian Peninsula and south Africa to Senegal. Native populations of Ficus sycomorus have also been found throughout the Middle East from Israel to Oman, although its natural distribution in this area has been disputed as some believe the trees were brought from Africa to Asia by people before the common era.
Mike's
Opinion
"
The Sycamore Fig is a historical tree that has helped to sustain the lives of many cultures since the dawn of humanity. With its unique timber products, high yield of edible fruit, and stunning ornamental value making it a notable and important species to our environment and society alike.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Moraceae |
| Genus |
| Ficus |
| Species |
| sycomorus |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (evergreen) |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 10 - 13 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 9b |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H1a - H3 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| (-5) - 0 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 23 - 34 |
| Height |
| 15 - 23 m |
| Spread |
| 10 - 15 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Ficus sycomorus is a medium to large tropical tree with a broad spreading canopy, rich green leaves, and unique fruit production with many clusters of figs forming along the branches and trunk during fruiting season. |
| Landscape |
| Ficus sycomorus has been used in the landscape for hundreds of years. Considered the tree of life in some countries, the fruit of the tree is valuable for both ornamental and nutritional use, however this species will only produce fruit in areas where the pollinating Chalcidoid wasp (Ceratosolen arabicus) species is present. During biblical times F. sycomorus became a dominant species amongst the flora in Israel and other middle Eastern countries due to the widespread use of its’ timber and large canopy making it an ideal shade tree in these hot, sunny climates. In the modern landscape the tree’s popularity has seen a major decline as other forms of timber became more popular, and the figs it produces became less valuable. Today it is mostly planted as a shade tree or an accent/specimen plant. It is also cultivated in mass plantings in certain areas to farm the fruit, and small cuttings or saplings can be popular for bonsai. |
| Cultivation |
| Ficus sycomorus is a tropical species that thrives in full sun with moist soil conditions, and can grow at an altitude of anywhere from sea level to 2,000 m. This species can tolerate a pH level from 5 - 7.5, but will thrive at a pH of 5.5 – 7. The roots of F. sycomorus are considered invasive, therefore it should be planted away from buildings or roadways to avoid obstructions. |
| Shape |
| The Sycamore Fig is a large tree with a raised, broad spreading canopy. This species typically has one to two large trunks, and characteristic buttress roots. The canopy is made up of multiple codominant scaffold branches which form a flat to somewhat rounded, dense crown. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| ID Characteristic |
| Ficus sycomorus can be easily identified while fruiting, with large clusters of round, yellow to pink fruits growing along the trunk and branches of the tree. When the species is not bearing fruit, the light brown peeling bark and buttress roots can distinguish this species from other Ficus spp. |
| Pests |
| Generally, in nature, there are not many pests that threaten Ficus sycomorus. However, the Fig Tree Borer Beetle (Phyrneta spinator) targets stressed specimens of the species and can cause major decline once an infestation is present by sucking the phloem from the vascular system of the tree. Asota speciosa (Speciose Tiger moth caterpillar), Myrina dermaptera (Scarce fig-tree blue), and Myrina silenus (Common fig-tree blue) are three species of insect that feed on the leaves of the Sycamore Fig in their larval stages, but don’t cause much damage. Leaf hoppers can also be a problem pest for this species. If cultivated as a house plant, Ficus sycomorus can succumb to a multitude of pests if not treated properly, including mealy bugs, scale insect, fungus gnats, thrips, and spider mites. However, given the proper growing conditions this species should remain relatively pest free. |
| Habitat |
| In nature the Sycamore Fig is typically found in high water table areas, along rivers or streams, in areas with well draining loam or clay soils. This species is not frost tolerant, but can withstand some cold temperatures, growing in areas where night temperatures dip to 0 °C, and daytime temperatures can reach 40 °C. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| The mature bark of Ficus sycomorus is a light brown colour, that peels in small plates over time to reveal darker brown bark underneath. The young bark of this species is a greenish-yellow colour and is covered in short, dense hairs. The main trunk of the tree can grow up to 2 m in diameter, with a mix of vertical and horizontal branching making up its’ canopy. It is quite common for this species of fig to develop large buttress roots, giving it a distinct appearance. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| The leaf buds of F. sycomorus are ovate shaped and can measure up to 3 cm in length. The buds are typically a light green colour and can be identified by the sheath that is left behind once the bud begins to bloom. The flower buds of the Sycamore fig are small, dark green in colour and round. They form in clusters along the branches and trunk of the tree. |
| Leaf Description |
| The leaves of Ficus sycomorus are similar in appearance to those of other fig species, with a rich green colour complimented by bright green pinnate venation. They are simple leaves with an obovate shape, crenate margins, acute apex, and measure about 5 cm long and 2.5 cm wide. The leaves are attached to stems by green petioles about 1 cm in length. In times of drought, this species can shed its leaves for a short period of time to retain energy. |
| Flower Description |
| F. sycomorus produces many clusters of syconia in the early-mid summer months. The syconia emerge directly from the trunk or branches of the tree and are attached by short, brown peduncles. These syconia typically contain one male and one female flower, sometimes containing two female flowers in the same syconium. Similar to other fig species the female flowers mature 2-4 weeks prior to the male flowers and due to this, have a short pollination window. The styles on the female flowers can range from 0.8 mm to 1.5 mm in length. The syconia which contain the flowers are round to ovate in shape, beginning as a brownish-green colour. As the pollination cycle occurs the syconia will go on to produce fruit or seed depending on whether or not the wasps completed fertilization of the female flowers. |
| Fruit Description |
| F. sycomorus produces dense clusters of widely ovate figs reaching a length of up to 50 mm at maturity. The fruit are pedunculate and attached to stems by short, brown peduncles about 3 cm long. The fruit begin a yellowish-green colour and fade to pink and then red at full maturity. If not pollinated, the fruit will not mature and will fall from the tree early. Each fig is made up of multiple achenes that together form the familiar fig fruit. These achenes each contain one small seed with a diameter of less than 1 mm. The time in which these fruits develop and ripen is dependant on the weather patterns and pollination but will typically begin falling from the tree in late August or early September. Once ripe, the fruit and seeds are both edible and can be prepared in a variety of ways. |
| Colour Description |
| F. sycomorus is a fig species with rich green leaves, accentuated by lighter green veins. The bark of this species is a light brownish-grey colour that peels away in small plates to reveal a darker brown bark. When first emerging, the fruit of this fig tree begin a greenish yellow colour, fading to pink and eventually a blush-red colour when fully ripe. |
| Texture Description |
| The Sycamore fig is a fast growing, medium textured tree with a dense textured canopy. The raised canopy creates a finer texture of bare stems and branches toward the base of the tree, with a lush crown of rich green leaves giving it more of a dense texture toward the top. On specimens with particularly large buttress roots the tree has an overall dense texture. |
| Notable Specimens |
| The Sycamore fig has a large place in the history of our society, and a piece of that history has been preserved for over 2000 years in the form of a specimen known as the Tree of Zacchaeus located in Jericho, Israel. This tree is said to be the tree where Jesus addressed Zacchaeus by name and invited himself into his home after seeing the man climb to the top of the tree to get a better look at Jesus. This tree is ancient and has been well preserved for over 2 millennium by those who view it as a piece of their history and culture. It can be viewed to this day in Al-Jummezeh Square, the city centre of Jericho, and is one of the top tourist attraction in Israel due to its’ history. |
| Propagation |
| F. sycomorus can be propagated via seed germination or from live wood cuttings, with cuttings typically being the more viable method. To germinate Ficus sycomorus seeds they must be removed from the ripe fruit around the end of the summer months by breaking open the figs and scooping out the seeds. The seeds should be sown in small batches and soaked in water for 24 hours before planting. To germinate they can be planted in small, single cell trays in soilless media at a depth of about 0.5 cm. The seeds should be kept in an environment at a temperature of 21 °C to 26 °C, with consistent moisture, humidity above 60%, and bright filtered light. They should be sown in summer or spring and will take 7-21 days to be ready for transplanting. Cuttings can be taken at any time from this species but are better taken after the fruiting cycle for that year is over. To propagate from cuttings, they should be kept at the same growing conditions of seeds, and will take about the same time to develop a strong root system. Rooting hormone is optional but can help ensure the cuttings develop healthy roots. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer) |
| Ficus sycomorus has had many ethnobotanical uses in its history of human cultivation, some of the earliest uses being for its timber. Sarcophagi of ancient Egyptian royalty were made from the wood of the Sycamore Fig during the Third Intermediate Period. Depictions of the tree have also been found in hieroglyphics on the walls of ancient tombs, indicating they were a popular choice for planting in gardens and around pools during this period in Egypt. The Sycamore Fig is also mentioned in the Holy Quran and in the Bible, as it was regarded as a symbol of protection, strength, eternity, and divinity by many Middle Eastern people. In present day, this species has many uses all over the world, including material, edible, and medicinal. The timber is still used to make things like drums, canoes, stools, doors, and houses, and can also be used for charcoal or firewood. The leaves, bark, fruit, and even the latex sap from this species are all used in recipes or food production today, includin |
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