Medium Rubber Plant
Native to the Indian subcontinents and southeastern Asian regions and scientifically known as the Ficus elastica, this plant can reach approximately one and a half feet tall and one foot wide at this stage. The medium size Rubber Plant is loved by our NYC and NJ customers because of its thick stems, dark hues, and long, shiny leaves that appear to be made of leather. This lush beauty has many aliases, Indian Rubber Fig, Rubber Bush, and Assam Rubber Tree to name a few.
A Modern Look
The Elastica has a modern look that can highlight any office or workspace. Customers love the glossy, leather-like foliage drenched in rich Army and uniform greens highlighted by pink and maroon gloss, veins, and stems. The leaves also have mossy hues when viewed from underneath.
It Makes Rubber
The genus name Ficus elastica refers to the Latin term, ‘edible fig’, and highlights a pearly sap that can be extracted from the plant’s bark to produce rubber. Normally grown as an ornamental tree, when the Rubber Plant reaches full maturity in its natural habitat it can develop thick roots that eventually form the trunks from which the sap is pulled. While the Elastica used to be a source for elastic materials, today, most natural rubber is taken from latex extracted from the Hevea brasiliensis, otherwise known as the Para Rubber Tree.
Multiple Variations
While this variation of the Rubber Plant is the most popular, other types include the Ficus decora and Ficus variegata. The Decora is classified by its larger leaves and ivory color tones, while the Variegata encompasses traits of narrower leaves that have yellow and green contrasts.
