Gardening Houseplants Types of Houseplants

How to Grow and Care for Creeping Fig

This perennial vine is a popular choice for houseplants.

closeup of a creeping fig

​The Spruce / Kara Riley

Creeping fig is a popular vining houseplant, often grown in terrariums or cascading over the edge of pots. This versatile plant can grow under a variety of sun exposures, ranging from partial to full sunlight, and it prefers moist, well-draining soil. Creeping fig is perennial in warmer climates and thrives in high humidity.

Keep in mind, creeping fig can be toxic to pets.

Common Name  Creeping fig, climbing fig
Botanical Name Ficus pumila
Family Moraceae
Plant Type Vine, perennial
Mature Size 8–15 ft. tall, 3–6 ft. wide
Sun Exposure Dappled, partial, full
Soil Type Moist but well-drained
Soil pH Acidic, neutral
Hardiness Zones 8-11 (USDA)
Native Area Asia
Toxicity Toxic to pets

Creeping Fig Care

The key to a healthy creeping fig plant is to keep it happy in the correct environment. Here's how to care for creeping fig:

  • Plant in a warm, humid environment with plenty of moisture.
  • Provide bright, indirect light.
  • Keep the plant roots moist and water regularly (about once a week).
  • Feeding is optional, but should be done in the spring, summer, and fall seasons.

Warning

If grown outdoors within its recognized hardiness range, in locations such as Florida, creeping fig can become invasive, escaping to naturalize outside the garden and potentially forcing out native plant life. And it can become damaging if it grows up walls, where it can harm mortar and other fragile building materials.

different varieties of creeping fig
​The Spruce / Kara Riley
closeup of a creeping fig
The Spruce / Kara Riley
one variety of creeping fig
The Spruce / Kara Riley 
another variety of creeping fig
​The Spruce / Kara Riley

Light

Creeping fig plants prefer a bright spot in your home but do not like direct sunlight, which tends to scorch and burn the leaves. However, if you are growing creeping fig outdoors and if it has been given time to adapt, this plant can handle full sun. Generally indoors, you should aim to give your plant six to eight hours of diffused, indirect light each day. They can also survive in low-light conditions for a bit of time, but will definitely grow more slowly and potentially drop some of their leaves.

Soil

Creeping fig plants can grow in myriad soil types, so long as they're well-draining. Typically, you can opt for any store-bought, commercial potting mix.

Water

Keep your plant steadily moist, but don't allow the roots to sit in water. The soil should be allowed to dry out before watering again. Generally, you should water your creeping fig regularly (about once a week) during its growing season, but taper off your cadence in fall and winter, when the plant tends toward partial dormancy. If you notice the plant's leaves browning or dropping from the plant, it's probably getting too much water.

Temperature and Humidity

True to its tropical heritage, creeping fig prefers a warm, moist environment. Temperatures indoors should be kept between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and never allowed to dip below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. The plant prefers above-average humidity levels as well, so consider keeping it in an already-humid part of your home (like a kitchen or bathroom), or invest in a space humidifier.

Fertilizer

While creeping fig doesn't need to be fertilized in order to thrive, you can feed it to help with its growth rate. If you choose to feed your plant, opt for a weak liquid fertilizer and feed once a month throughout the spring, summer, and fall, decreasing to every other month in the winter.

Types of Creeping Fig

The basic species plant has green leaves that are reddish or bronze when they first emerge, gradually becoming a deeper green. But because of creeping fig's hardiness and vigor, growers have developed different varieties, seeking more attractive and interesting leaf shapes. Here are some cultivars to consider:

  • F. pumila ‘Snowflake’: variegated leaves with wide white margins.
  • F. pumila ‘Minima’: very small leaves that make it especially good for indoor containers and hanging baskets.
  • F. pumila ‘Quercifolia’: small leaves that resemble miniature oak leaves.
  • F. pumila ‘Sunny Fig’: variegated leaves with wide white margins.

Pruning

Indoor plants should be kept well pruned so trailing stems are no more than 3 feet long. Be aware that even indoor plants will cling to and climb up walls and other structures if you don't pay attention. Major pruning for both indoor potted plants and outdoor plants is best done in spring.

If you choose to plant it in your outdoor garden, know that you will have to prune creeping fig consistently to ensure it doesn't take over nearby plants. Outdoor plants can develop scorched leaves due to sun-scald. Lightly "prune" such plants by brushing your hand over the dead leaves to dislodge them.

Propagating Creeping Fig

These plants rarely flower indoors, so collecting seeds for propagation is not practical. However, creeping fig is easy to propagate through stem cuttings. If you want to keep your creeping fig plant around for longer than its natural indoor life, propagate the plant every other year or so. That way, when one plant declines, a new one will be waiting to take its spot. Here's how:

  1. In early spring when the plant begins active growth, take a 4- to 6-inch cutting from a fresh growth tip.
  2. Plant the cutting in a small pot filled with sterile potting mix. (No rooting hormone is necessary.)
  3. Move the pots to a warm location with high humidity and bright but indirect light. Enclosing the pot in a clear plastic bag may help hold in humidity.
  4. When new growth begins to emerge, you can relocate to a more permanent container.

Potting and Repotting Creeping Fig

Creeping fig normally grows well in any well-draining pot filled with standard commercial potting mix. Any pot material will do, though lightweight plastic is a good choice for hanging plants. Repot the plant whenever roots are evident growing through the drainage holes—this may be necessary every year. These plants grow well if they are somewhat root-bound, so rather than potting up to a larger container, you can simply prune back the root ball and pot it back into the same container with fresh potting mix.

However, it's worth noting that even very healthy and well-cared-for plants will likely only last a few years in their pots; ultimately their root structures are designed for aggressive and spreading growth, and it's highly unlikely your indoor plant will ever bloom or yield fruit.

Overwintering

Feeding should be withheld during the winter months, when the plant enters a semi-dormant stage. Even indoor potted plants slow their growth during the winter. Watering should also be somewhat reduced—but not so much that leaves drop.

Common Pests

Creeping fig is vulnerable to a variety of pests common to the indoors, including aphids, mealybug, scale, and whitefly. If possible, identify the infestation as early as possible and treat the plant immediately with a horticultural oil like neem oil. It's also wise to move the plant away from your other houseplants as a precaution until all signs of infestation are gone.

Creeping fig is not prone to any significant diseases.

Common Problems With Creeping Fig

Creeping fig is a largely problem-free plant, but several cultural problems may be noted, both with indoor and outdoor plantings:

Damage to Exterior Walls

When creeping fig is grown in the garden and allowed to climb up walls, the suckering discs by which the plant attaches itself can damage stucco, brick, or wood surfaces. The mortar between bricks can be dislodged, for example, loosening bricks. Even if the vine is successfully removed, unsightly stains from the adhesive discs often remain.

This can be avoided by giving the vine a trellis or other structure to support it, keeping it well away from building walls.

Leaves Are Scorched

Plants growing in exposed outdoor locations can be scorched by drying winter winds. While this doesn't really injure the plant, it is unsightly. Dead leaves can be simply brushed off by hand. To avoid the problem, plant creeping fig in a protected location.

Leaves Are No Longer Attractive

Creeping fig has two growth phases. Juvenile plants have smallish leaves that work very well for indoor potted plants. But as the plant matures, the leaves become much larger and leathery, and less attractive for indoor growing. The best strategy is to propagate new plants through stem cuttings and discard the old plant.

Potted Plant Loses Vigor

Provided it is getting its cultural needs met (plenty of indirect light and regular water), a potted creeping fig that begins to show a lack of vigor and sparse foliage has probably outgrown its pot. These quick-growing plants usually need annual repotting. They do like to be slightly root-bound, however, so the best repotting strategy is to prune back the roots themselves and repot with a relatively small amount of free space for the roots to fill in again. With potted plants, it's not practical to keep increasing pot size with each annual repotting.

FAQ
  • How long does a creeping fig vine live?

    When growing outside, creeping fig can live for many, many decades. Indoor potted plants can similarly be kept alive for quite a long time, provided the plant's aggressive roots are regularly pruned back through repotting every year. But because old plants are less attractive, it is more common to discard old plants and propagate new ones.

  • How can I clean away the stains left on my exterior siding by creeping fig?

    This is a labor-intensive project, but the gummy stains left on siding from creeping figs suckering tendrils can usually be removed by scrubbing the siding with a mixture of water and either bleach or TSP (trisodium phosphate).

  • Does creeping fig work in topiaries?

    Yes. Younger plants have small, delicate leaves and stems that will shape themselves to topiary frames very readily. Creeping fig even works well for small tabletop topiaries. As the plant becomes old, the leaves and stems become larger and coarser, at which point you may need to discard the plant and start over.

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  1. Ficus pumila. North Carolina State Extension.

  2. Creeping fig. University of Florida.

  3. Ficus pumila. North Carolina State Extension.

  4. Climbing Fig. Clemson Cooperative Extension.

  5. Creeping Fig. Houseplant Expert.

  6. Climbing Fig. Clemson Cooperative Extension.