July 2025 Mini Show

Ficus and Dorstenia by Thomas Glavich

Dorstenia and Ficus are both members of the Moraceae or Fig family. Dorstenia is a strictly tropical genus, with almost all members coming from tropical rain forests. A few members have become succulent and are found in the dry lands of East Africa and Socotra. Ficus is a large genus, again mostly tropical, but with members that live well into the upper latitudes. The succulent members of the genus mostly come from either Mexico or South Africa.

Dorstenia is the more tropical genus and is fairly touchy about getting cold and wet. It does best when protected from temperatures below 40 degrees. All the species appreciate reliable watering and feeding when in active growth.

Dorstenia have minute flowers that are grouped together in a head (hypanthodium), surrounded with odd shaped (and often brilliantly colored) bracts that help attract pollinating insects. These function in exactly the same way as the common sunflower.

One of the rarest yet best-known species is Dorstenia gigas from Socotra. This species grows on the rocky slopes of the island, with Dendrosicyos and Adenium. All three have the same general shape, with a thick cylindrical stem and stubby branches.

Dorstenia crispa is a common species, easily grown from seed, and frequently self seeding in adjacent pots. The stems of Dorstenia crispa often resemble miniature palms. It originates in Kenya.

Dorstenia foetida rapidly grows a small spherical caudex. As its name applies, the flowers smell like rotting meat, and they are pollinated by flies. The fragrance is fairly weak. It originates in Kenya and Tanzania, and easily hybridizes with Dorstenia crispa.

Dorstenia radiata has spider-like hypanthodia, and smaller, paler leaves. It originates in the Southern Arabian Peninsula.

There are many rarely seen species from the jungles and dry lands of Tanzania. Some of these have brilliant yellow hypanthodia, several inches long. With luck they will be in cultivation in the next few years.

The Mexican and South African Ficus are altogether much easier to grow. They are happy growing outdoors in pots and can take cooler temperatures and heavy winter rain without rotting. By far, the two most common species are Ficus petiolaris and Ficus palmeri. They are very similar in growth habit, with Ficus petiolaris being distinguished by its red leaf veins.

Both make excellent pot plants and can be displayed as bonsai. Both are easily grown in root-over-rock style, by growing a plant for a year in a deep, narrow pot, and then taking the resulting roots, pruned back to only a few major ones, and draping them over a rock.

The whole assembly should then be buried for a second year, for fast growth. The rock can then be raised to display the roots.

All Ficus can be easily propagated from seed or cuttings. Seed is best planted in late spring, when the weather is guaranteed to be warm. Growth is generally fast, and repotting is necessary soon after germination. Cuttings can be taken any time when in active growth, and simply stuck in damp, loose potting soil. If a cutting is taken with several leaves, best results will be obtained if all the leaves except one or two of the smallest are removed. Rooting is generally rapid.

There are several South African and Asian pachycaul Ficus that can also be found, most often as seed. Some of these lose their pachycaul or caudiciform habit as they mature but are clearly succulent plants when young. They are all worth trying and experimenting with. They are almost all receptive to hard pruning to make the caudex develop.

Ficus abutilifolia forms a caudex when less than an inch across. The caudex forms almost immediately when grown from seed.

Ficus arnottiana from the deserts of NW India resembles Ficus palmeri.Ficus glumosa is native to Natal, Swaziland and Namibia eventually becomes a large tree. It is common to many warm areas of Asia with prolonged annual periods without rain.