The weeping fig or Ficus benjamina, is a tree species belonging to the moraceae family which are found all along Asia and parts of Australia. It is characterised by its glossy green oval leaves with a sharp point; smooth, ash-coloured branches; large vibrant flowers of pink and white and small orange fruit.
It’s Uses
It is a widely popular house plant and a common sight in roads and parks. Due to its resilient nature; it does well in both shade and sun, poor soil conditions and hot weather, they are also proven to remove harmful gases like formaldehyde from indoor air. Their stems are strong but flexible which make them ideal for plant decoration. The tree only grows to about 3 feet tall indoors which makes it the perfect for small houses and indoor gardens.
Animal life visiting this tree
On the other hand, the tree can grow up to 98 feet tall outdoors, providing ample amounts of shade and a habitat for a range of diverse animals. Fig wasps are the key pollinators of the weeping fig and are always found around, as even the hatching of wasps coincidences with the ripening of figs and maturation of male flowers, the figs also attracts numerous types of birds; bee-eaters, bulbuls, doves, drongos, mynas and hornbills just to name a few. These large trees are a favorite among bird watchers for the sheer variety and volume of birds they attract.
