Ficus natalensis; Natal Fig; Natalvy;
umDende or umThombe (X and Z); asiHlamfani (Thonga)
Article by Geoff Nichols
We humans give figs a bad name by planting them or allowing
them to grow too close to our dwellings and structures, like swimming pools
and sewer lines. Leave at least 5 metres of space between your house and
a fig tree. The roots of figs travel large distances to get to water just
look at the chimney specimen, it is at least 25 – 30 metres high.
Along our KwaZulu-Natal coast this tree has often been used to demarcate
farm boundaries. I’m quite sure the farmers just lopped branches of big
trees and stuck them in along the boundary line as giant cuttings or truncheons.
Now 50 –80 years later these trees are local landmarks.
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To grow
Natal Figs is an easy process, large cuttings work well but ensure you get
the right original shape by allowing for an open arching shape. Do not just
stick in a pole this will result in a “witches broom” top of many little
branches that as they mature become quite weak and are not able to support
the weight of the branch because the coppice shoots are not set in the woody
tissue of the trunk.
Seed in my opinion is the best method of propagating this species. Collect
the figs from under the tree squish them between your fingers and sow this
pulp on a seed tray filled with a sandy well drain seedling mixture. Once
the seeds germinate in about 10-14 days prick out the seedlings into individual
containers. These plants must be in full sun to allow for maximum growth
and vigour. The sunlight also helps to reduce soil pathogens like damping
off fungus.
From a wildlife point of view these trees are heaven on earth as they get
older and begin to set figs. The figs are eaten by everything. The beautiful
fig tree blue butterfly caterpillars eat even the leaves. The soft wood
of dead branches make wonderful nesting logs for birds like Barbets and
Woodpeckers.
As a Bonsai this species Natal Figs are virtually unsurpassed in the shapes
that can be created from the plant.
