Overview
Ficus Audrey is a selected Indian banyan with broad matte leaves and pale veins. In Central Florida it is best as a protected specimen or large container plant; in the ground it can become massive.
Mature Size and Habit
In frost-free sites it can exceed 40 feet with a wide crown and aerial roots. Young 'Audrey' plants look compact, but they retain the fast evergreen growth of a banyan.
Best Landscape Uses
Feature it in a spacious tropical garden or movable patio container. Avoid narrow beds, utilities, paving, and any site where the future canopy and roots lack clearance.
Sunlight
Provide full sun to bright partial sun. Acclimate nursery foliage gradually to stronger light; morning sun with afternoon protection suits new Tampa plantings.
Soil, Drainage, and Irrigation
Use fertile, draining soil and water deeply while roots establish. Later, let the upper soil begin drying between irrigations. Keep mulch off the trunk flare.
Best Planting Season for Tampa and Central Florida
Plant from late spring into early summer after cold fronts pass. A sheltered early-fall planting can work, but late planting increases winter risk.
Pruning and Maintenance
Train a spaced framework and remove crossing or damaged branches. Prune lightly during warm growth, sanitize tools, and wear gloves because cuts release latex.
Wildlife Value
If fruit develops, birds and other wildlife may eat the figs, while the dense crown offers shelter. Its dependable value is evergreen cover and foliage.
Cold and Heat Sensitivity
Heat and humidity suit this tropical fig, but frost can burn leaves and young wood. Use a warm site, mulch roots, and cover small plants during freezes.
Safety, Roots, and Placement Warnings
Milky sap can irritate skin and eyes, and Ficus is unsafe for pets to chew. Mature roots may damage pavement, walls, drains, and infrastructure.
Invasive Concerns
UF/IFAS rates Ficus benghalensis a documented non-problem species in Florida, but notes escapes and structural damage. Remove volunteers and prevent growth into buildings or native canopy.
Helpful Resources
See the UF/IFAS species profile for Florida impacts and the UF/IFAS Assessment for regional status.
