Variegated Creeping Fig

Ficus pumila ‘Variegata’

Plant Details

USDA Cold Hardiness Zones: 8a-11 Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Vine

Height or Length at Maturity: 3-4″ as groundcover, 10’+ growing up walls

Width at Maturity: 2′ or more

Spacing: 18-24″ for mass planting

Growth Habit / Form: Climbing, Mat-Forming, Dense, Spreading/Trailing

Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast

Flower Color: N/A

Flower Type: N/A

Flower Size: N/A

Flowering Period: N/A

Fragrant Flowers: N/A

Foliage Color: Green and White

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: No

Sun Needs: Shade, Morning Sun with Afternoon Shade, Filtered or Dappled Sun

Water Needs: Average

Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Sand, Silt

Soil Drainage: Well Drained or Moderately Drained

Soil pH: 5.5 – 7.5

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer – more info, Disease, Heat, Humidity, Insect

Description

Creeping Fig can be used as a groundcover, but is most often used as an enthusiastic climber able to scramble up brick, stone, or stucco walls up to 3 to 4 stories tall. ‘Variegata’ is a creeping fig vine that coats surfaces with a tracery of fine stems that are densely covered with small, heart shaped, green leaves that are boldly edged in white. The leaves are about 1 inch long by about .75 of an inch wide. When growing up and against a wall the leaves form a mat that extends barely 1 inch from the surface to form a “live wall.”

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing just a few inches tall and spreading or climbing almost indefinitely, Creeping Fig is ideal for use to climb and cover brick, stone or wooden walls or other porous surfaces, where it forms a very attractive “live wall.” It also serves an attractive evergreen groundcover or soil cover and spiller plant in container gardens. Disney and the other theme parks make use of creeping fig to create “instant” topiary. Wire frameworks are created of geometric shapes, animals, and even famous cartoon characters. The frames are lined with sphagnum moss and filled with growing medium. Creeping fig is planted in the frame which rapidly grows to cover the shape in a thin coat of fine-textured juvenile leaves.

Suggested Spacing: 24 inches apart for groundcover; 18 inches apart at base of a wall

Growing Preferences

Creeping Fig is very easy to grow in most any moist but well-drained soil of average fertility. The vine will tolerate full sun or shade however tends to perform better with some afternoon shade or filtered sun. Creeping Fig will grow at seaside if protected behind dunes or buildings. It is quite drought tolerant when established however you’ll need to provide it water during dry spells when young.

NOTE: Find helpful advice under the Planting & Care tab above on desktops and below on mobile phones.

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