Ficus Macrophylla - Evergreen Trees Direct

Ficus Macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig - Evergreen Trees Direct

Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig

$350.00

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Size: 40cm/45L

40cm/45L 100L

Current Stock Height Guides

40cm/45L: 0.7m – 1.6m Approx.
100L: 1.6m – 2.1m Approx.

Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you mustconfirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 30m to 60m (approx.)

Mature Width: 20m to 30m+

Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig is expected to grow 60cm to 100cm per year (fast in ideal conditions).

Root Ball Dimensions

Use this as a reference when digging your planting hole. We recommend digging at least 10% wider than the dimensions below to encourage strong root development.

30cm Pot: 33cm (W) × 30cm (D)
40cm/45L Pot: 44cm (W) × 41.5cm (D)
50cm Pot / 70L Pot: 55cm (W) × 41.8cm (D)
100L Bag: 50.6cm (W) × 52.8cm (D)
150L Bag: 66cm (W) × 55cm (D)
200L Bag: 71.5cm (W) × 60.5cm (D)
300L Bag: 88cm (W) × 63.8cm (D)
400L Bag: 99cm (W) × 66cm (D)
500L Bag: 122cm (W) × 66cm (D)
750L Bag: 134cm (W) × 69cm (D)
1000L Bag: 146.3cm (W) × 71.5cm (D)
2000L Bag: 176cm (W) × 82.5cm (D)

Trade

We supply advanced trees to landscapers, developers, architects, and councils Australia-wide. Trade clients receive fast quotes, expert advice, and access to premium stock with reliable freight.

Register or learn more ›

Shipping

Shipping is calculated at checkout based on the pallet space your order occupies in the truck and your delivery location.

There is no charge to calculate your freight.

Contact

Have a question or a list to send through to us?

Email: sales@evergreentrees.com.au

Phone: (03) 7042 3318

About Your New Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig

Ficus macrophylla is the Moreton Bay Fig, the tree behind the great buttressed trunks in Australia's oldest public parks. Massive surface roots, an enormous domed canopy and dense glossy evergreen foliage make it one of the most commanding trees that can be grown in this country.

Ficus macrophylla reaches 30 to 60 metres tall and spreads 20 to 30 metres or more at 60 centimetres to 1 metre per year in good conditions. This is a tree for parkland, large rural properties and civic landscapes. It is not suited to suburban blocks, and it should be kept well clear of buildings, paving, drains and services.

This Australian native grows in full sun to part shade and is frost sensitive, so it is best in frost-free or protected coastal positions. Once established it is exceptionally long-lived and requires almost no intervention beyond giving it the space it demands from the outset.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Ficus macrophylla

How big does Ficus macrophylla grow?

The Moreton Bay Fig reaches 30 to 60 metres tall with a canopy spreading 20 to 30 metres or more. It is one of the largest trees grown in Australia and needs to be sited accordingly.

Are Moreton Bay Fig roots invasive?

Yes. Ficus macrophylla develops extensive buttress and surface roots that will lift paving, damage drains and foundations, and disrupt services. Plant it a long way from any built structure, ideally in open parkland.

Is Ficus macrophylla suitable for a suburban garden?

No. This tree needs parkland scale. For a suburban block choose a smaller fig such as Ficus microcarpa var. hillii, or a different shade tree entirely.

How fast does the Moreton Bay Fig grow?

It grows at 60 centimetres to 1 metre per year in warm, moist, frost-free conditions, and considerably slower where it is cooler or drier.

Is Ficus macrophylla an Australian native?

Yes. It is native to the east coast of Australia, from the Wide Bay region of Queensland down through New South Wales, and is widely planted in historic parks and gardens.

Is the Moreton Bay Fig frost tolerant?

No. It is frost sensitive, particularly when young, and performs best in frost-free coastal and subtropical positions or in sheltered microclimates.

How much space does one tree need?

Allow a minimum radius of 20 to 30 metres of clear ground, and considerably more where the tree is expected to mature fully. Do not plant within that radius of buildings, paving or underground services.

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

Enriched Planting Mix is a certified organic blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent, bagged in 30L. It is built to be dug through existing garden soil at planting time rather than used on its own, and the gypsum is what sets it apart from a plain compost.

Gypsum helps break up heavy clay so water and roots can move through it, while the compost and manure return organic matter and nutrient to tired ground. The coarse bark holds structure and keeps air around the root zone, and the wetting agent keeps moisture in the soil longer after rain or watering.

Use it when planting trees, shrubs, roses, fruit trees and exotic garden plants, particularly into clay. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and 7 centimetres deeper, then mix roughly one third planting mix through the excavated soil. Spread 7 centimetres of that improved soil in the base before setting the plant in.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Enriched Planting Mix

What is Enriched Planting Mix made from?

It is a blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent. Each part has a job. The compost and manure supply organic matter and nutrient, the gypsum works on clay structure, the bark keeps air around the roots and the wetting agent holds moisture in the soil.

What plants is it suitable for?

It suits exotic garden plants, including roses, ornamental and deciduous trees, fruit trees, shrubs and perennials, and it earns its keep most on heavy clay sites. It is a planting mix rather than a potting mix, so its job is improving soil at planting time. Phosphorus sensitive natives are the one clear exception.

Is it safe for natives?

No, not for the phosphorus sensitive ones. The composted animal manure in this blend lifts phosphorus well above what Proteaceae such as Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea and Protea will tolerate, and the result can be leaf burn, dieback and plant death. Use the Native Potting Mix for those species, or plant them into unimproved local soil.

Is it certified organic?

Yes. It is a certified organic product with no chemical additives, which is why the manure and compost in it are fully composted rather than raw. That makes it sound around fruit trees and vegetable beds, and it means you are adding genuine organic matter to your soil rather than a synthetic conditioner.

How much do I need?

Work on roughly one third planting mix to two thirds of the soil you dug out of the hole. For a shrub out of a 200 millimetre pot that is only a few litres. An advanced tree going into a large hole will take considerably more. Judge the quantity by the volume of the hole rather than the size of the plant.

Can I use it in pots?

It is not a potting mix and should not be used on its own in a container. The blend is designed to be diluted through garden soil, and used straight in a pot it holds too much water and settles badly. For containers, reach for a premium potting mix, or the native mix if you are potting natives.

Does it need to be watered in?

Yes. Water the plant well several hours before you plant it, then water thoroughly again once the hole is backfilled and the soil firmed down. That first deep watering settles the improved soil around the root ball and drives out air pockets. Keep the water up over the first few months while the roots establish.

View full details

Type: Garden Supplies

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

Liguleria Reniformis - Evergreen Trees Direct

Type: Structural Foliage

Ligularia reniformis

$45.00

Type: Structural Foliage

Buxus japonica Japanese Box Topiary Balls

From $300.00

Type: Structural Foliage

Buxus sempervirens English Box Topiary Balls

From $200.00

Type: Hedging and Screening Trees

Rhaphiolepis indica 'Oriental Pearl'

From $40.00

Uses in my Garden

Avenue Planting
Shade Tree
Feature Tree
Rural Property Planting
Council or Civic Landscapes

Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig works in an:

Australian Native Garden – celebrates local plants with natural character.
Heritage / Traditional Garden – timeless, classic plantings for period homes.
Woodland Garden – layered, naturalistic design under dappled light.

Is Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig Evergreen or Deciduous?

Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 30m to 60m (approx.)

Mature Width: 20m to 30m+

Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig is expected to grow 60cm to 100cm per year (fast in ideal conditions).

Growth Rate of Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig

Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig is expected to grow 60cm to 100cm per year (fast in ideal conditions).

They are considered to have a:

Fast Growth Rate

Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig

Is Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig frost tolerant?

Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig is Frost Sensitive – May suffer damage from frost, best in frost-free or protected spots.

Does Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig Flower?

Ficus macrophylla does not produce visible ornamental flowers; instead, its tiny internal blooms form inside the developing figs. These enclosed floral structures later mature into small, round fruit, offering subtle seasonal interest through the tree’s fruiting cycle rather than a traditional floral display.

Does Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig flower?

Yes - Flowers

Flowering Period:

Not Applicable

Flower Type:

Not Applicable

Flower Colour:

Not Applicable

Is Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig an Australian Native Tree?

Yes

Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig is Native to Eastern Australia, from the New South Wales Illawarra region north into Queensland, where it grows naturally in subtropical and dry rainforests.

What is the Wildlife Value of Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig ?

Its abundant figs attract fruit-eating birds, flying foxes and other native wildlife, while the extensive buttress roots and large canopy provide shelter, roosting and nesting habitat for small birds and ground-dwelling fauna. The tree’s figs also support specialised fig wasps, making it an important keystone species in many ecosystems.

How much Sunlight does Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig need?

Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig will thrive best in:

Full Sun
Part Shade

Preferred Soil?

Ficus macrophylla performs best in deep, well-drained loam or sandy loam soils and tolerates slightly acidic to slightly alkaline conditions. It may struggle in heavy clay or compacted ground unless improved with organic matter to increase structure and aeration. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then transition to deep, occasional watering as it matures to support its vigorous growth, extensive root development and high drought resilience.

Is Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig Drought Tolerant?

Is Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig Drought tolerant?

As a young tree it requires regular watering, but once established Ficus macrophylla develops excellent drought tolerance. It thrives in hot, dry, coastal and urban environments and maintains its massive, spreading evergreen canopy with minimal supplementary watering.

youtube

How To Plant Your Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig

Site: Choose a well-drained position in full sun to part shade with room for the canopy to develop.

Soil preparation: Enrich the planting area with quality compost and aged manure for a strong establishment phase.

Hole: Dig twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth.

Planting: Position level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, firm in, then water deeply to settle the roots.

Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig

Feature tree: 3 to 4 metres apart to allow the full canopy and form to develop.

Avenue planting: 3 metres apart for a uniform soft-textured avenue.

Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig is expected to grow 60cm to 100cm per year (fast in ideal conditions).

Fast Growth Rate

Long Term Care For Your Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig

Watering: Water deeply twice weekly through the first 12 months. Once established, this is drought tolerant and only needs a deep soak during extended dry periods.

Mulching: Apply a 5 to 7 centimetre layer of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it 5 centimetres clear of the trunk.

Pruning: Minimal pruning required. Light tip prune in late winter to maintain shape, and remove lower branches as the tree grows to develop a clean feature trunk.

Fertilising: Apply a slow-release native blend in early spring and again in autumn. Avoid high-phosphorus formulations as a precaution.

Pest and disease: Hardy against most pests and diseases. Occasional inspection in warm humid conditions is all that's needed.

Planting Your Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig in Different Soil

Ficus Macrophylla performs best in well-drained sandy loam or loam with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Adaptable to a wide range of soils when drainage is improved with organic matter.

Sandy soil: Free-draining and ideal. Mulch well to maintain consistent moisture.

Clay soil: Improve drainage with gypsum and organic compost before planting.

Loam: The preferred soil for steady root development and consistent growth.

pH: Slightly acidic to neutral preferred. Mulch with composted leaf litter to maintain levels naturally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How large can a Moreton Bay Fig grow?
A: Moreton Bay Figs can reach heights of 40-60 meters with a canopy spread that can exceed the height of the tree, though in garden settings they often remain smaller.

Q: Is the Moreton Bay Fig suitable for small gardens?
A: Due to its large size and root system, it's better suited for large gardens, parks, and open landscapes.

Q: How fast does the Moreton Bay Fig grow?
A: It has a moderate growth rate, but it can be faster in optimal conditions with ample space and water.

Q: How often should I water my Moreton Bay Fig?
A: Young trees need regular watering. Once established, they are relatively drought-tolerant but will benefit from occasional deep watering in dry periods.