banyan tree (forum)

Edwina Murfet starts with ...
Hi, I have been looking for a ficus bengalensis (Banyan tree) for years now. Does anyone know where I might get one from? Thanks and best wishes, Edwina Murfet

Time: 22nd January 2018 11:05am

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Pademelon1 says...
You are extremely unlikely to find it for sale in Australia, but there are plantings of this tree in north Qld and a few specimens in the RBGSYD, I don't know about elsewhere. The fig wasp for this species is not present in Australia so you won't find seeds or seedlings to grow it from, so the only way I see of getting one is from a good cutting.

Good Luck!


Time: 23rd January 2018 12:33pm

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Fruitylicious1 says...
Hi Edwina

As of this writing ficus benghalensis seeds are available for sale at e-bay. Check your State Dept of Agriculture if this organism is listed and therefore allowed for importation in your State or Territory.

If you're willing to compromise there is also a great banyan tree in Australia called Moreton Bay Fig (ficus macrophylla) with almost the same characteristics like the ficus benghalensis and both are popular among bonsai enthusiasts.

Happy Gardening :-)

Time: 23rd January 2018 1:36pm

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Original Post was last edited: 24th January 2018 1:50pm

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Edwina Murfet says...
thankyou for your feedback. The problem with the Moreton bay fig is that it doesn't have the amazing aerial roots that the Banyan fig has :(

Time: 25th January 2018 9:53am

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Fruitylicious1 says...
Hi Edwina

Moreton bay fig is a member of the strangler (epiphytic) fig family which means if they happen to germinate in the canopy, stem or fork of a host tree it will send heaps of aerial roots until it reach the ground ultimately strangling its victim. As evidenced by the picture that i have uploaded it has also some impressive aerial roots. The trick is try to grow it on a host trees branches or fork to bring out its dark side as a strangler and an aerial artist.

As always ... Happy Gardening :-)
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 26th January 2018 4:11pm

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Original Post was last edited: 26th January 2018 4:14pm

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Pademelon1 says...
There is also a variety of the Moreton bay fig native to Lord Howe Island (F macrophylla f. columnaris) that exhibits the same banyan habit of not having one trunk and instead branching out using aerial roots to form new trunks.

Time: 28th January 2018 9:51pm

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Original Post was last edited: 28th January 2018 9:51pm
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