Ficus benghalensis - Indian Banyan Tree Figs

Even in San Diego's mild non humid climate they send out the aerial roots. They aren't seen in gardens in socal except for the rare home planting.

It’s pretty humid here in spring and summer. This is when the aerial roots grow. They take forever to reach the ground, though.

You see quite a few around now. I think it’s because it’s commonly sold at nurseries now. It’s marketed as Ficus ‘Audrey’, which is just a marketing gimmick. There’s one nursery here in San Diego that sells small to large (10 ft) ones by the hundreds.

The largest one known in California is in San Dimas, it’s more than 60 ft tall with lots of aerial roots. It was planted in 1904.

I know of one in Los Angeles that looked to be a good 30-35 ' and almost as wide. Nothing huge like the tropics. They even do very well in Arizona if well watered. I would wonder if they could do well to ok in the bay area? Wish I had the acreage to try!

My friend’s Indian Banyan in Fallbrook is over 30 ft tall and almost as wide. It’s only 17 years old! I was shocked when I saw it! He has a lot of ground water in the Moro Hills and it’s pretty darn hot in summer in Fallbrook. It has quite a few aerial roots, also.

This one in the pic is around 10 years in the ground and is only around 18 ft tall. It does get pruned regularly, as it sends out big long whips everywhere.

I grew one in Fremont, it did very well! It did only grow in summer, but grew big (9 ft). I sold it when it when I moved.

I had one in a pot that was given to me by a Palm Society member. It grew well in a pot for about 5 years. I had to sell it because it was bursting out of the pot. I sold it to a man in Fallbrook (a Palm Society member). I have it posted somewhere on GoY.

Stan,

I found this pic I posted of the Indian Banyan tree I sold years ago.

https://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/122261-ficus-bengalensis-indian-banyan-tree/member/Delonix1