What is the growth rate of Ficus microcarpa
Abstract: This article discusses the growth rate of Ficus microcarpa and the differences between Ficus microcarpa and Ficus retusa. Detailed content is shared below.
Ficus microcarpa Linn. f.: A large tree, up to 15-25 meters tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 50 centimeters, a widely spreading crown; old trees often have rust-brown aerial roots. The bark is dark gray. The leaves are thin and leathery, narrowly elliptical, dark green on the surface with a glossy finish, and entire. The figs are paired, axillary or on the axils of fallen leaves, maturing to yellow or slightly red, oblate, with 3 basal bracts, broadly ovate, persistent; male flowers, female flowers, and gall flowers are all within the same fig, with a few short bristles between the flowers; the tepals are 3, broadly ovate, the style is nearly lateral, the stigma is short, clavate. The drupe is ovate. Flowering period is May to June.
Ficus microcarpa has been designated as the provincial tree of Fujian Province, and it is also the city tree of Fuzhou and Ganzhou. It is distributed in China, Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Japan, Papua New Guinea, and Australia, extending to the Caroline Islands.
Ficus microcarpa is adaptable, prefers loose and fertile acidic soil, can grow in poor sandy soil, and the leaves turn yellow in alkaline soil. It is not drought-tolerant but can tolerate moist conditions, short-term flooding will not rot the roots. It grows poorly in dry climates but can produce aerial roots in humid air, greatly enhancing its ornamental value. It prefers sunny, warm, and humid climates, is not cold-tolerant, and is often grown in pots outside the South China region. It is not strict about soil requirements, can grow in slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil, and is sensitive to intense sunlight.
Street shade tree
In landscape garden design, Ficus microcarpa is used as a street tree species because of its large crown and lush foliage during growth, with fewer diseases and pests. Generally, street trees in landscape garden design mainly provide shade, and this type of fig tree has a sturdy shape that can meet these requirements, and its growth rate also allows for a relatively short time to achieve the shading effect. This is beneficial for the strong sunlight in the southern regions, creating a natural sunshade, especially in leisure areas of garden squares, where planting such trees allows visitors to feel the natural coolness while resting.
The planting methods usually involve linear planting and symmetrical planting. Linear planting involves straight-line arrangement, with rows horizontally and columns vertically, which can be single or multiple rows, depending on the garden design needs, and can involve single or multiple species of fig trees. It is generally suitable for street tree planting and attention must be paid to the spacing between each fig tree, avoiding overly dense planting for the sake of visual effect. Symmetrical planting involves a symmetrical planting method, generally suitable for shade trees, such as in squares or exits, which not only provide shade but also beautify and decorate the overall effect of the garden landscape.
Isolated planting
In landscape garden design, apart from being used as street trees and shade trees, Ficus microcarpa can also showcase its ornamental value as landscape trees and ornamental trees. Generally, planting large fig trees such as万年阴 (Wannianyin) and 大叶榕 (Dayefung) can enhance the overall momentum of the landscape; for example, planting some 垂叶榕 (Chuiyefung) and 黄金榕 (Huangjinrong) can be planted on lawns or combined with colorful flower beds, creating a sense of layered beauty and enriching the greenery of the fig trees, providing a visual impact for visitors. Additionally, planting some 柳叶榕 (Liuyefung) or 琴叶榕 (Qinyefung) near pavilions can create a retro atmosphere, resulting in a more obvious landscape effect. Sometimes, based on the pruning tolerance of fig trees, they are planted as hedges or green sculptures, pruned into geometric shapes or irregular forms, such as animals. As isolated ornamental trees, the chosen species are tall, such as 高山榕 (Gaoshanrong) and 菩提榕 (Putirong), usually planted in open areas, using their natural growth form to create a unique artistic effect, pruned appropriately to grow in the direction envisioned by the designers, sometimes even creating a grand, solitary tree forest. Stone tables and chairs can be constructed under the fig trees, with a game of Go set up, a stick of incense burning, creating a primitive, natural landscape atmosphere, especially菩提榕 (Putirong), which is often considered a sacred tree, adding a mysterious touch to the garden landscape.
For the planting forms of landscape trees, symmetrical and linear planting can be used, but they may appear rigid, so fig trees can be planted according to the designer's inspiration and the planting forms of other vegetation. Attention must be paid to the planting spacing to avoid ecological competition between adjacent fig trees. Some isolated trees are planted individually in open areas such as lawns, hillsides, lakeshores, and the edges of large buildings, which can attract visitors with the greenery of the fig trees, and the individual planting method can better showcase the morphological characteristics of the isolated fig trees, enhancing their ornamental value. Especially菩提榕 (Putirong), which is often used in isolated ornamental tree planting.
Ecological afforestation
In landscape garden design, fig trees can also be used for ecological afforestation, such as planting high survival rate and fast-growing fig trees in unused open spaces in the garden, which can quickly increase the green area of the landscape. Moreover, with the adsorption and air purification effects of fig trees, ecological afforestation can purify the air environment of the garden. Especially in some southern cities with rapid industrial development, where there is a lot of harmful substances such as chlorine and sulfur dioxide in the air, planting some Indian rubber fig trees can not only add color to the overall landscape design and increase the diversity of species in the garden but also adsorb and purify the air in the garden and the city, allowing visitors to breathe fresh air while appreciating the landscape.
When conducting ecological afforestation, the planting methods usually involve clump planting and group planting. Clump planting is different from linear and symmetrical planting, where the same species of fig trees are chosen for random planting without刻意 decoration, allowing them to grow naturally with the influence of the natural environment, creating a landscape design that is natural and unadorned. Group planting involves a larger scale, generally reaching 30 or more trees, even hundreds, creating a real fig forest. However, it is necessary to pay attention to the beauty of layers and distribution, with mixed planting of multiple fig species or composed of the same species. They are usually planted on hillsides and forest edges.
In subtropical regions such as South and Southwest China, fig trees can be used to beautify gardens, cultivated in the open, with aerial roots hanging from the crown creating a natural tropical rainforest landscape. Large potted plants can be shaped to decorate halls, pavilions, and houses, and can also be placed in small classical gardens; tree stump bonsais can be used to decorate family rooms, offices, and tea houses, and can also be displayed in public places for a long time without requiring careful management and maintenance. Fig trees can be made into bonsais to decorate courtyards and bedrooms, or used as isolated ornamental trees.
The detailed explanation of the growth rate of Ficus microcarpa and the differences between Ficus microcarpa and Ficus retusa provided above is for reference and suggestion only!