
Jim helped us all by identifying some of the more unusual plants, including
the mystery plant from Scott and George. Then Kevin called all
the numbers - except mine.

Jim’s Plant of the Month:


Jewels, February 2008
This month's plants are
the members of the genus Ficus, the fig trees. Probably the best known in
Florida is the Cuban laurel, which is neither Cuban nor a laurel, but a fig
tree from India. It’s sister species is the weeping Chinese banyan, Ficus
benjamina. The fiddle leaf fig, Ficus lyrata and the rubber tree, Ficus
elastica, are common landscape plants. There are
also 2 species of
strangler fig native to Florida, and we see those growing out of the cut, dead
fronds of palm trees. As always, though, the species I want to discuss are
those that are less often seen in Florida, but still likely to perform very
well in your garden.
The clown fig, Ficus aspera, has leaves that are
variegated green and white, with decorative figs striped reddish-pink to offer
a wonderful contrast. It is slow growing
(a rarity in Florida!), but will eventually reach 15 feet in
height. It prefers
full sun and regular water.
The Roxburgh fig,
Ficus auriculata (or
roxburghii),
is the species with the second largest leaves. Not only is it impressive when
the leaves reach full size, but the
clusters of large, decorative

figs growing
directly out of the trunk make it a fascinating oddity.
It also prefers full sun, but lots of water.
I only know of one nursery in the US that carries it, but someday you may be
able to get one from me!
Club officer contact
President: Jim Nevers, president@rakesandbladesfl.com
Vice President: Ann Allen, vicepres@rakesandbladesfl.com
Treasurer: Gary Raush, treasurer@rakesandbladesfl.com
Secretary: Bruce Bates, secretary@rakesandbladesfl.com
Newsletter: Bryan Hopper, newsletter@rakesandbladesfl.com
Photographer: Brad Hissing, photos@rakesandbladesfl.com
Raffleator: Kevin Ritter, raffles@rakesandbladesfl.com
Social Director: Michael Argrew, socialdirector@rakesandbladesfl.com
Program Coordinator: Brian Cahill, programs@rakesandbladesfl.com
Host Coordinators: Ann Allen, Marty Volpe, hosting@rakesandbladesfl.com
Potluck Committee:
Marty Volpe, Scott Hoffman, Dani Skrzypek, Jeffrey Davis
potluck@rakesandbladesfl.com