Freezing Tolerance in the Genus Ficus

Abstract

Freezing tolerances of 31 evergreen and semi-evergreen Ficus species growing out-doors at Fairchild Tropical Garden, Miami, Fla., were determined in late Dec. 1982. Five species, Ficus hookeriana Corner, F. montana Burm.f., F. rubiginosa Desf. ex Venten., F. tinctoria Forst.f., and F. trigonata L. survived freezing at −2°C whereas the hardiest species, Ficus pumila L., survived −4°. The other 25 species failed to survive freezing at −2°. A tender species, Ficus benjamina L., grown under natural environmental conditions in Gainesville, Fla., failed to survive a Jan. 1983 freeze of −4°. Freezing avoidance via supercooling appeared to be an effective means of survival for F. benjamina , as evidenced by 80% rooting in samples that supercooled to −2° and −4°.