18 different types of rubber plus essential facts natural rubber comes from the tree hevea brasiliensis which is native to south america.
Rubber tree different types of rubber plants.
As a domesticated houseplant rubber plants grow anywhere between six to ten feet tall you can grow outdoor rubber plants if you live in zone.
Nevertheless this large leaved decorative plant belonging to the.
The rubber trees popularity was probably at its highest from the song by frank sinatra high hopes.
It is of major economic importance because its sap like extract known as latex can be collected and is the primary source of natural rubber.
Ficus elastica more commonly known as a rubber plant rubber tree or rubber tree plant is a popular houseplant because of its waxy leaves and larger than life appearance.
Native to india and eastern asia the plant can become massive reaching a height of 100 feet.
They re fast growers with the right light conditions and can last 15 years or more with proper care.
If you re tired of coddling the notoriously fickle fiddle leaf fig or weary of picking up dropped leaves from your weeping fig every day try a rubber plant.
The rubber plant ficus elastica could be the ideal houseplant for you if you want a tough but easy going indoor plant that can reach staggering heights within just a few years the shiny glossy leaves look great in most homes and although young plants start off small they will fill the space in an empty corner quickly.
It is known by the name ficus elastica or india rubber plant but it s not in any way related to the true rubber tree hevea brasiliensis a relative of the christmas plant poinsettia cultivated for the production of natural rubber latex.
Also sometimes referred to as india rubber or gum rubber natural rubber is the only non synthetic type of rubber in common use today and is usually sourced from the latex found in the hevea brasiliensis plant commonly referred to as the para rubber tree.
About the rubber tree houseplant.
Explorer henry wickham brought seeds of this rubber tree which were planted in england sri lanka indonesia singapore and malaysia.
Rubber plant elastica ficus and its many varieties handle neglect much better than the rubber plants cousin ficus benjamina.
Characteristics the rubber tree is an evergreen plant with thick broad glossy green leaves that are.
Often cultivated on large plantations covering hundreds of acres the latex is extracted.
Rubber tree plants are tough showy evergreen plants from the tropical forests of asia.
Several rubber tree varieties with different leaf colors are well suited for growing indoors.
But indoors a rubber tree typically tops out at 6 to 10 feet tall.
In the wilderness.
Rubber plants can grow up to 100 feet in their native homeland of southeast asia.