Moraceae
Ficus craterostoma
Forest Fig
Canopy/Emergment Tree
12 medium available right now.
About
Ficus craterostoma is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree, typically 5–10 m tall but occasionally reaching 20 m, with a rounded, spreading crown. Its bark is grey and smooth, sometimes mottled with fine longitudinal cracks. The dark green, glossy leaves are typically blunt-tipped and have wavy margins. Small, stalkless, warty figs up to 15 mm in diameter ripen to a yellowish-red colour.
Where it works in Kilifi
This species thrives in moist, high-rainfall environments, making it suitable for coastal forest conditions in Kilifi. It can be planted in full sun in well-drained, fertile soil. As it can grow into a large canopy tree and exhibits a strangling habit with buttressing roots, it is best suited as a specimen tree in spacious gardens or for restoration areas where its root system will not cause damage.
Growing notes
Ficus craterostoma is an easy-to-grow tree for frost-free regions. It is a fast grower when provided with adequate moisture and warmth, requiring regular watering, particularly during its establishment phase. Given its potential for strangling and rock-splitting roots, careful consideration of its placement is necessary, or it can be maintained as a container or bonsai subject.
Sources
Researched with web grounding from: sanbi.org, zimbabweflora.co.zw, mozambiqueflora.com, wikipedia.org, treesa.org, kartuz.com. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.