The ficus lyrata, more commonly known as the fiddle leaf fig, is one of today’s “it” plants. You’ve most likely seen this gorgeous plant gracing the pages of magazines and the floors of luxurious homes. Its iconic, fiddle-like leaves and dainty veins earned this plant its unique name. The plant is known for its graceful silhouette. However, it also has a strong reputation in the wild for slightly different reasons:
Fiddle leaf figs come from the tropical jungles of West Africa and can reach at least 40 feet in height. They are natural epiphytes in the wild. This means that they start their lives by embedding their seeds on top of another tree, then growing downwards. As they grow, they may strangle the host plant as it competes for light. Luckily, the domesticated versions are gentle in homes and will happily share their space with you.