Vine
Creeping Fig
Ficus pumila · Moraceae
Also called: Climbing Fig, Creeping Ficus
Creeping Fig (Ficus pumila) is a moderate-water vine well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It's a fast-growing vine.
Creeping Fig at a glance
- Water use
- Moderate (established)
- Sun
- Best with morning sun and afternoon/filtered shade or an east- or north-facing wall in Tucson; full west/south reflected sun scorches the foliage. Needs a wall or surface to climb.
- Mature size
- Clings and climbs 10-20+ ft; juvenile foliage forms a fine, flat clinging mat.
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Bloom
- Inconspicuous (figs are hidden in receptacles); ornamental value is foliage, Insignificant; mature growth may produce large non-edible figs.
- Cold hardiness
- USDA 9b-11; foliage damaged below about 28 F and the plant can be killed back hard by Tucson frosts, recovering from the base in spring.
- Soil
- Adaptable; prefers well-drained, amended soil with even moisture. Tolerates alkaline desert soil but prone to iron chlorosis.
- Native range
- East Asia (China, Japan, Vietnam)
- Best used as
- Wall and fence cover (clings via aerial rootlets), Softening masonry, columns, and courtyards, Topiary/espalier on frames
- Wildlife
- Limited; dense growth offers cover for lizards and small birds.
- Toxicity
- Sap (latex) is a skin/eye irritant and can cause dermatitis; mildly toxic if ingested by pets. Wear gloves when pruning.
How to grow Creeping Fig in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Keep soil consistently moist; does not tolerate drying out. Water every 3-5 days in summer heat, less in winter. Reflected heat increases water demand sharply.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Feed with a balanced fertilizer or slow-release in spring and again in summer for dense cover; supplement with chelated iron if foliage yellows (chlorosis is common in alkaline soil).
Pruning & care
Vigorous - shear or cut back regularly to keep it flat against walls and to remove the coarse, large-leaved adult/fruiting growth. Cutting back hard in spring rejuvenates leggy plants.
Notes
Usually grown as a clinging vine rather than a true groundcover, so type is recorded as Vine. Aerial rootlets attach tightly and can damage paint/stucco when removed. Needs a protected, non-reflected exposure and steady water to thrive in Tucson; frost-tender.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; Arizona State University (camartin) virtual library of plants; Sunset/Western Garden cultural data