Ficus pumila – Creeping Fig - Evergreen Trees Direct

Ficus pumila – Creeping Fig

$25.00

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Size: 20cm

20cm

Current Stock Height Guides

20cm: Enquire within for height guide information.

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: 10m to 15m (climbing, with support)

Mature Width: 3m to 5m (as groundcover)

Ficus pumila – Creeping Fig is expected to grow 1m to 2m per year (fast, once established).

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)

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Email: sales@evergreentrees.com.au

Phone: (03) 7042 3318

About Your New Ficus pumila – Creeping Fig

Ficus pumila, commonly known as Creeping Fig, is an evergreen self clinging climber with a dense, spreading habit. Juvenile stems carry small heart shaped leaves in a flat, overlapping pattern, and aerial rootlets grip masonry, timber and rendered surfaces without any support wire. The result is a fine textured green skin over whatever it covers.

It grows in full sun to part shade and accepts most soils provided drainage is reasonable. Warm temperate and subtropical gardens suit it best, and established plants handle coastal exposure, wind and dry spells. Frost is the limit, so choose a protected position in cold districts. Growth runs one to two metres a year, so plan on regular trimming.

Landscapers use it to green blank walls, fences, retaining walls and lift shafts, and as a groundcover on banks where mowing is awkward. It softens hard structures quickly, which is why it turns up on commercial fitouts and courtyard renovations. Keep it clear of painted render and roof lines and it will hold that cover for decades.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Creeping Fig

What is Creeping Fig?

Ficus pumila is an evergreen climbing and creeping plant from the fig family, grown for the dense mat of small heart shaped leaves it lays over walls and fences. It attaches itself with aerial rootlets, so no trellis or wire is needed on masonry. Juvenile growth stays flat and uniform, which is the look most buyers are after.

How big does Creeping Fig grow?

Height depends entirely on what it is climbing. On a standard boundary wall it will cover three to four metres of height and keep spreading sideways as far as you let it. Given a taller structure it climbs higher again. Treat the spread as open ended and control it by trimming rather than expecting it to stop on its own.

How fast does Creeping Fig grow?

Expect one to two metres a year once the plant has settled in, which is fast for a self clinging climber. The first season is slower while the roots establish and the stems find their grip. Warmth, moisture and a sunny aspect all speed it up. In cooler districts growth slows noticeably through winter.

Will Creeping Fig damage walls?

On sound brick, concrete and masonry it is not a problem. The clinging rootlets do leave marks and can lift paint, render and soft mortar when stems are pulled away later, so avoid painted surfaces and old lime mortar. Keep it trimmed clear of gutters, roof tiles and window frames, where the woody adult growth can cause real damage.

Does Creeping Fig need sun or shade?

Full sun to partial shade both work. Full sun gives the fastest and densest coverage, while a shaded southern wall produces slightly larger, looser leaves and slower growth. It will not thrive in deep shade with no direct light at all. On hot western walls inland, water it well through the first two summers while it establishes.

Is Creeping Fig frost tolerant?

It is frost sensitive. Light frost burns the exposed leaves, and plants generally push fresh growth in spring in mild frost areas, but repeated or heavy frost sets them back badly. In cold districts plant against a north facing wall or in a courtyard that traps warmth, and keep it out of open, exposed sites.

How do I care for Creeping Fig?

Water regularly for the first two summers, then it largely looks after itself. Trim two or three times through the growing season to hold the shape and keep the juvenile foliage coming, since untrimmed stems turn woody and coarse with larger leaves and fruit. A light feed in spring keeps the colour strong, and a hard cut in late winter resets a plant that has run away.

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.

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Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

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Uses in my Garden

Screening or Privacy
Groundcovers
Underplanting

Ficus pumila – Creeping Fig works in an:

Modern Garden – sleek, minimal, and design-led planting.
Contemporary / Architectural Garden – striking forms for bold design statements.
Coastal Garden – relaxed, seaside feel with hardy, textural plants.
Tropical Garden – lush, leafy planting for a resort-style atmosphere.
Low-maintenance Garden – resilient choices for easy care and year-round appeal.

Is Ficus pumila – Creeping Fig Evergreen or Deciduous?

Ficus pumila – Creeping Fig is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 10m to 15m (climbing, with support)

Mature Width: 3m to 5m (as groundcover)

Ficus pumila – Creeping Fig is expected to grow 1m to 2m per year (fast, once established).

Growth Rate of Ficus pumila – Creeping Fig

Ficus pumila – Creeping Fig is expected to grow 1m to 2m per year (fast, once established).

They are considered to have a:

Fast Growth Rate

Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Ficus pumila – Creeping Fig

Is Ficus pumila – Creeping Fig frost tolerant?

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

Does Ficus pumila – Creeping Fig Flower?

Ficus pumila does not produce ornamental flowers. Its blooms are small and inconspicuous, forming within enclosed structures typical of fig species, with the plant instead valued for its vigorous growth and dense, clinging foliage.

Does Ficus pumila – Creeping Fig flower?

Yes - Flowers

Flowering Period:

Not Applicable

Flower Type:

Not Applicable

Flower Colour:

Not Applicable

Is Ficus pumila – Creeping Fig an Australian Native Tree?

No

Ficus pumila – Creeping Fig is Native to East Asia, including China, Japan, and Vietnam, where Ficus pumila grows naturally on rocky slopes, forest margins, and shaded cliff faces.

What is the Wildlife Value of Ficus pumila – Creeping Fig ?

Its dense foliage provides shelter for small birds, lizards and beneficial insects, creating valuable microhabitats within the garden. While not grown for nectar-rich flowers, its structure contributes to local biodiversity by offering protection and nesting opportunities in vertical spaces.

How much Sunlight does Ficus pumila – Creeping Fig need?

Ficus pumila – Creeping Fig will thrive best in:

Full Sun
Part Shade

Preferred Soil?

Ficus pumila performs best in well-drained loam or sandy loam soils with a neutral pH. It will also tolerate poorer soils if enriched with organic matter to improve moisture retention. Avoid waterlogged or compacted conditions unless significantly improved, as excess moisture can stress the roots. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then gradually reduce watering as the plant matures.

Is Ficus pumila – Creeping Fig Drought Tolerant?

Is Ficus pumila – Creeping Fig Drought tolerant?

As a young plant it benefits from regular watering to establish strong growth, particularly during warmer weather. Once established, Ficus pumila shows good drought tolerance and performs reliably through dry periods, although it maintains the healthiest foliage with occasional supplementary watering.

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How To Plant Your Ficus pumila – Creeping 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 pumila – Creeping Fig

Hedging and screening: 1 to 1.5 metres apart for a dense informal screen, or 80 centimetres apart for a tighter formal hedge.

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

Ficus pumila – Creeping Fig is expected to grow 1m to 2m per year (fast, once established).

Fast Growth Rate

Long Term Care For Your Ficus pumila – Creeping Fig

Watering: Water deeply twice weekly through the first 12 months. Once established, reduce to once weekly in dry periods. Mulch helps maintain consistent moisture.

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

Pruning: Tip prune in late winter and again in summer to build dense growth. For a formal hedge, light shaping two to three times a year keeps lines crisp.

Fertilising: Apply a slow-release general-purpose fertiliser in early spring and again in autumn for steady growth and consistent foliage colour.

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

Planting Your Ficus pumila – Creeping Fig in Different Soil

Ficus pumila performs best in well-drained loam or sandy 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: Is Ficus pumila fast growing?
A: Yes, it is fast growing once established and can cover walls and surfaces quickly.

Q: Does it require regular pruning?
A: Yes, regular trimming is recommended to control spread and maintain boundaries.

Q: Is it suitable for coastal gardens?
A: Yes, it performs reliably in coastal conditions once established.

Q: Can it damage walls or structures?
A: It clings firmly to surfaces and should be planted with consideration for long-term maintenance and access.