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Ficus benjamina, commonly known as weeping fig, benjamin fig or ficus tree and often sold in stores as just ficus, is a species of flowering plant in the family Moraceae, native plant to Asia and Australia. It is the official tree of Bangkok. The species is also naturalized in the West Indies and in the states of Florida and Arizona in the United States. Its small fruit are favored by some birds. Ficus trees have proved to have environmental benefits in urban areas, such as acting as biomonitors. The species is also associated with some allergens.
F. benjamina is Monoecy. The are spherical to egg-shaped, shiny green, and have a diameter of . In the inflorescences are three types of flowers: male and fertile and sterile female flowers. The scattered, inflorescences, stalked, male flowers have free and a stamen. Many fertile female flowers are sessile and have three or four sepals and an egg-shaped ovary. The more or less lateral style ends in an enlarged scar. Pollination of F. benjamina only occurs with a specific type of wasp that live symbiotically together.
The ripe figs (collective fruit) are orange-red and have a diameter of .
The tree is treated as an ornamental bush and indoor plant in many places. But it is one of the best shade trees. It can grow to enormous size. Its capability of carbon sequestration is also good.
F. benjamina is a very popular houseplant in temperate areas because of its elegant growth and tolerance of poor growing conditions; it does best in bright, sunny conditions, but it also tolerates considerable shade. It requires a moderate amount of watering in summer and only enough to keep it from drying out in the winter. Longer days, rather high daytime and moderate night-time temperatures constitute favorable conditions for appreciable growth in a short time. It does not need to be misted. The plant is sensitive to cold and should be protected from strong drafts. When grown indoors, it can grow too large for its location and may need drastic pruning or replacement. F. benjamina has been shown effectively to remove gaseous formaldehyde from indoor air. F. benjamina also helps eliminate heavy metals, most commonly in urban areas. The plant has been used as a biomonitor in New Mexico.
Figs tend to be consumed dried. The fruit is edible, but the species is not usually grown for its fruit. The leaves have been known to have pharmaceutical benefits such as anti-oxidant properties. The leaves are very sensitive to small changes in light. When a tree is turned around or relocated, it reacts by dropping many of its leaves and replacing them with new leaves adapted to the new light intensity. The plant is also sensitive to changes in other environmental factors such as temperature, humidity and relocation (citation needed).
These trees are also considered a high risk for succumbing to storm gale winds in hurricane-prone South Florida. As a consequence, in many jurisdictions in South Florida, no permit is needed for removal of these trees. The South Florida Water District recommends removing them safely and promptly.
Allergy to Ficus plants develops over time and from exposure. The allergy was first observed in occupational settings amongst workers who regularly handled the plants. A study of workers at four plant-leasing firms showed that 27% of the workers had developed antibodies in response to exposure to the plants.
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