Fauna
Plant · GBIF taxon 5361930

Climbing Fig

Ficus pumila

Also known as Creeping Fig, Climbing Rubber Plant, Creeping Ficus

Climbing fig exhibits remarkable heterophylly, starting life as a delicate creeping vine with tiny heart-shaped leaves before maturing into woody branches with large leathery foliage. Dense aerial rootlets produce a powerful biological adhesive that allows the plant to scale stone walls, tree trunks, and masonry with ease. In its mature phase, specialized fig wasps pollinate the inconspicuous flowers hidden within green, inverted fruit structures called syconia.

VineEvergreenClimber
Climbing Fig reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) 胡正恆(Jackson Hu), some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
  • Spider mites
  • Scale insects
  • Thrips
ThreatsHabitat loss in native range; non-native spread in warm damp climates
HabitatsSubtropical forests, cliff faces, urban walls, rock gardens
Life span20–50+ years
Classification
  1. OrderRosales
  2. FamilyMoraceae
  3. GenusFicus
  4. SpeciesFicus pumila
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Milky sap irritates skin and is toxic to pets if ingested; wear gloves when pruning.
Why it is dangerous
Produces a milky latex sap containing ficin that causes skin redness and contact dermatitis, as well as toxic reactions in pets.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognized as a trailing vine with small heart-shaped leaves that oozes white sticky sap when cut.
What to do
Wear protective gloves when pruning, and keep vines out of reach of domestic dogs and cats.
Responsible observation
  • Pruning: Trim juvenile stems regularly to maintain small-leaved foliage and prevent adult fruiting growth.
  • Surface Protection: Avoid growing against wooden siding, as aerial roots attach with strong, damaging adhesives.
  • Light and Moisture: Position in bright indirect light with consistently moist, well-draining soil.
Related species
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