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Good Questions: Identify This Large House Plant / Tree?

6-1-house-plant.jpg

Dear Apartment Therapy, I moved into a loft a few months back and am still trying to fill some empty space up given the height of the ceilings. I really want to get a tree for a corner of my living room and noticed this one in House Beautiful a few months back. Problem is, I can't seem to find out what sort of tree it is. Any idea?

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Comments (22)

looks like a fig

posted by marfanboy on June 1st 2009 at 8:08am
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A little hard to tell from the photo, but looks to me like a fairly common houseplant type of fig.

posted by guido on June 1st 2009 at 8:08am
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Looks like a Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus Lyrata).

posted by bueller on June 1st 2009 at 8:10am
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testing...comments aren't showing up on this post....

as for the plant, pretty sure it's an ornamental fig

posted by guido on June 1st 2009 at 8:16am
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It's a Fiddle Leaf Fig, pretty common and pretty easy to care for. This seems to be the "In" houseplant now. I've seen several at Home Depot Etc.

posted by Volvoguy on June 1st 2009 at 8:16am
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I have 3 in my home (excessive i know...) LOVE THEM!!!

posted by KielOver on June 1st 2009 at 8:30am
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fiddle fig, and at that size, if youre in nyc it will cost you about $250.00. I have one, and its not that easy to care for. but it has beautiful leaves.

posted by itsthehouseshow on June 1st 2009 at 8:30am
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Yes. Fiddle leafed fig. I have one. Friend bought it for me from the Flower district - it's a lot cheaper there, although I believe still in a hundreds. They will deliver. Do not go to a fancy garden place because it will cost you twice as much.

Also, I have been rotating mine to give it even sunlight. Don't change it's general location though. They don't like that so much.

posted by Kah on June 1st 2009 at 9:03am
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I have one... Fiddle Leaf Fig.

posted by jeffnyc on June 1st 2009 at 9:18am
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I'm the question-asker. Thanks guys! Any specific shop/place in NYC that I should head to to get it?

posted by zaky on June 1st 2009 at 9:21am
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The best deal "new" would be to go to the distributors on 28th street, although for a tree that size you're still looking at $300-400. I've seen them on craigslist for signicantly cheaper.

posted by amt230 on June 1st 2009 at 9:32am
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Ooh, on second thought I just noticed that these are toxic to animals....any suggestions for something similar?

posted by zaky on June 1st 2009 at 9:34am
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Zaky,
Try the Flower District near w28th street (close to Korea town?). I checked a few stores along that walk when I was looking for a fiddler's fig and ended up at AK Kumar Tropical Plants and Orchids INC, 106 w 28th street btw 6th and 7th). Hope this helps.

posted by dragonphly on June 1st 2009 at 9:41am
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Doesn't this look like a Rubber Tree?

posted by Lawnmowr on June 1st 2009 at 9:54am
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Areca Palm is nice but you may have to keep it pruned but it grows very tall, Bamboo palms are really pretty and they can get quite tall with proper care.

posted by boxerchick on June 1st 2009 at 9:54am
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Hello again. Mine was got at Paradise Plants on 28th St.

posted by Kah on June 1st 2009 at 10:03am
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Its an avocado tree. I had one indoors.

posted by Vivianne Pontes on June 1st 2009 at 12:42pm
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Please note that the leaves are poisonous for house pets.

posted by guerilla on June 1st 2009 at 2:03pm
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Rubber plants are another type of ficus...ficus elastica. This is a ficus lyrata, or fiddle leaf fig. They like bright light and will need regular watering. As others have mentioned, ficus plants tend to prefer to stay in the spot they have gotten used to and not move around a lot. They also dislike drafts.

posted by andc78 on June 1st 2009 at 2:21pm
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THAT is what I was begging the Bloomingdale's people to put in the window I did back in January! I LOVE that dang thing! I didn't mind what they ended up with because it basically accomplished the same thing, but I LOVE that dang thing!

I wish I had room in my apartment for one like that.

posted by Curtis on June 1st 2009 at 10:32pm
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This looks like a Bougainvilia

posted by DesignCracker on June 1st 2009 at 11:52pm
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Looks like sea grape to me....

posted by Deidre88 on June 2nd 2009 at 5:03pm
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