The blog Gardenista’s editor in chief, Michelle Slatalla, described it as “comparable to a baby houseplant.
New York-based interior designer Brad Sherman believes they have a “Prehistoric, to quote Dr. Seuss.
Chicago-based designer Summer Thornton said they are great for bringing a sense of youth and vitality to a space “not a ficus from your mother.
And blogger Daniel Kanter of Manhattan Nest said, “They appear to be a planted comment.
What are they discussing? The lowland rainforests of western Africa are home to the Ficus lyrata species. But its more popular name is the fiddle-leaf fig “the hottest potted plant around.
Each period has its own popular houseplant. It was the African violet in the 1950s and 1960s. Spider plants trailing out of macram hangers were popular in the 1970s. It was the potted ficus in the 1980s and the early 1990s. Mossy plants in terrariums and glass jars were popular in the 2000s.
If you open the most recent edition of Architectural Digest or Elle Decor, you probably see a fiddle-leaf fig. These plants are frequently planted in white lacquer boxes and displayed in sparsely furnished rooms with white walls. You may find one inside any Cline boutique because the fiddle-leaf has evolved into the unofficial symbol of the French luxury company.
Large fiddle-leaves, which can reach a height of ten feet, were put by Marimekko in its Finnish headquarters. When the business supplied its first office, Casper, an online mattress retailer, did the same.
The fiddle-leaf fig was spotted for the first time five years ago on interior design blogs, according to Mr. Sherman, who built the Casper headquarters. The slim trunk, large, luxuriant foliage, and the harmonious mix of structure and whimsy struck him as having sculptural qualities. He started utilizing the plants for each undertaking.
“According to Mr. Sherman, finding attractive plants for interiors has never been easy. “Some of them lack character and are overly waxy. The fiddle-leaf defied convention.
They do have size, work with a variety of design aesthetics, from modern to granny chic, and seem to magically change any room, which is why designers adore them.
“According to Miles Redd, who decorated the solarium of a California home he designed that was featured in Architectural Digest with six-foot-tall flanking fiddle-leaves, you can plunk it in a dead corner and all of a sudden everything comes to life.
Ms. Thornton stated: “That distinguishes them from a palm or ficus, in my opinion. These plants lack the fiddle-leaf fig’s dramatic impact and pop.
Fiddle-leaf figs have existed for a long time. But something Mr. Kanter found might be the best way to explain why the plant is currently famous. He wrote on his blog in 2012 to declare, “After seeing them online and in social media, “I was incredibly eager to join the Fiddle club.
At an upscale nursery in Brooklyn, Mr. Kanter did spend $100 for a five-foot-tall fiddle-leaf fig plant. He delivered it to his Kingston, New York, residence. He soon understood why fiddle-leaves are so popular among bloggers, Instagram users, and Pinterest users: They are organic materials made specifically for digital sharing.
“They look great in pictures, said Mr. Kanter, who also noted that he comes across fiddle-leaves far more frequently online than in person.
The gardening editor, Ms. Slatalla, finds a fiddle-leaf fig more appealing on a fundamental level. She previously compared the enormous, glossy leaves to a baby’s big, round eyes in a Gardenista piece.
“According to Ms. Slatalla, it makes you want to take care of it. “With this plant, people often anthropomorphize it in ways they don’t with others.
The fiddle-leaf fig is a picky, delicate organism, just like a newborn. Despite what some would have you believe, many owners—including Ms. Slatalla—have discovered that they are not hardy or simple to care for.
She remarked, “It’s funny that a plant that is so difficult to maintain has become so famous, adding that her fiddle-leaf fig “died of neglect” since it couldn’t find the perfect position in her house.
The fiddle-leaf Mr. Sherman installed at the Casper offices perished after a few weeks and was replaced by 11 more before a successful care regimen was discovered (indirect light, away from the radiators).
“They don’t react well when you move them, according to Mr. Sherman. “The leaves will scorch and fall off if they are exposed to direct sunlight. They are extremely sensitive plants.
The fiddle-leaf fig in Hadley Peterson’s New Jersey house has been maintained alive for ten years, and she has watched as it grows lush and tall. However, following a transfer she almost lost it, and she knows passionate gardeners who couldn’t keep them alive.
“Ms. Peterson responded, “I think it has a lot to do with the air in the room.” “My home is always kept at 68 degrees. But there’s also the light. It receives sheltered indirect light from a sun porch.
She continued, as if discussing a youngster with a fidgety nature: “If you leave it in water, it won’t thrive. You must allow it to drain.
Ms. Thornton informs her clients that having weekly flower arrangements delivered is more static and more expensive even if their fiddle-leaf lasts a year or less. Additionally, as a result of its resurgence in favor, costs have decreased widely while availability has expanded.
In fact, Mr. Kanter has observed fiddle-leaf figs being offered for $30 at a grocery store chain close to his home in upstate New York. It’s proof that the plant might have peaked in popularity and is about to face criticism.
Do fiddle leaf figs naturally occur?
For millions of years, fiddle leaf fig trees have been growing naturally. They are indigenous to West Africa, where they grow up to 60 feet tall and produce tiny green fruits in nations like Sierra Leone.
They are a member of the Moraceae plant family, which also includes fig and mulberry trees. Fiddle leaf figs are a species of the Ficus genus, which has around 850 other sister species and comprises the majority of the more than 1,100 plants in the huge Moraceae family.
What makes fiddle leaf figs so well-liked?
That, however, does not explain why these plants are so well-liked. According to a New York Times article by Steven Kurutz, the rise of social media (which is crucial for interior designers; psst, follow us on Instagram) has simply increased the public’s awareness of these plants because they are now featured in virtually every major design blog and Instagram account.
Simply simple, they make good photos. And if you stop to think about it, you’ve probably seen fiddle-leaf figs much more frequently online or in magazine spreads than you have in actual residences. This is due to the fiddle-leaf figs’ particular attractiveness as well as the fact that they require a lot of maintenance.
What is the origin of a fig leaf?
The flowering plant species Ficus lyrata, also referred to as the fiddle-leaf fig, is a member of the Moraceae mulberry and fig family. It grows in lowland tropical rainforest in western Africa, from Cameroon west to Sierra Leone. It has a maximum height of 1215 m (3949 ft).
Here is an illustration of a lyrate leaf. The leaves of the ficus lyrata are lyrate, or in the manner of a lyre.
The leaves can range in size from up to 45 cm (18 in) long and 30 cm (12 in) wide (though they are typically smaller), with a leathery texture, pronounced veins, and a wavy edge. They frequently have a broad apex and narrow midsection, suggesting a lyre or fiddle.
What kind of leaves did Eve and Adam use?
The act of hiding is the subject of this essay. Refer to Ficus for the plant. See Fig Leaves for the 1926 silent comedy movie.
In the Cast Courts of the Victoria and Albert Museum, a replica of a statue of David had its genitalia covered with a plaster cast of a fig leaf. Male nudity was controversial throughout Queen Victoria’s reign, and the monarch was rumored to find it repulsive. The fig leaf was purchased by the museum and kept on hand in case the Queen or other female dignitaries paid a visit. It was then fastened on the figure using two hooks. The fig leaf is no longer in use today, but it is still on exhibit in a case behind the plinth for the cast. [1]
A fig leaf covers the genitalia on a statue of Mercury holding a caduceus in the Vatican. The fig leaf was put there by the more “chaste” Popes; later, the majority of such coverings were taken off.
As a metaphor for Adam and Eve using fig leaves to cover their nudity after eating the forbidden fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the expression “fig leaf” is frequently used figuratively to convey the concealment of an act or an object that is embarrassing or distasteful with something that appears innocent.
[2]
[3] In several sculptures and paintings, the genitalia of the subjects are covered with an image of a fig leaf or other like object, either as part of the original design or later added for the sake of apparent modesty.
Fiddle leaf figs survive for how long?
A tropical tree with fiddle-shaped leaves, the ficus lyrata is a native of the lowland rainforests of West Africa. It has a lifespan of 25 to 50 years (if cared for properly in non-tropical conditions).
What makes it so well-liked in the design community? Most people give the tree’s large, floppy spherical leaves, which resemble violins, credit. People anthropomorphize the plant by comparing these to babies’ huge eyes in an effort to make them desire to care for it.
Of course, the majority of designers would also mention how photogenic the plant is, which undoubtedly helps.
Do fiddle leaf figs cost a lot?
A fully mature fiddle leaf fig plant may cost around $200. However, you may obtain one for about $20 if you purchase a young plant.
Generally, the best approach to ensure that you are obtaining a healthy plant is to buy locally and in person. Fiddle leaf figs, once they reach maturity, can survive for up to 50 years. Therefore, if you can afford it, it is advisable to choose a healthy plant or a plant with a warranty.
Given the wide variations, cost should be taken into account when purchasing a fiddle leaf fig tree.
How To Get A Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree On A Budget
You can purchase a young plant if you wish to reduce costs without sacrificing quality. A young plant can be purchased for significantly less money even though it will take longer to reach maturity. Young plants will need a little more time and care, but you will be able to enjoy them for a longer period of time.
You might also ask a friend who has a fiddle leaf fig tree to start some seeds for you. Even though fiddle leaf figs are famously difficult to grow, it is the most affordable approach to produce a strong plant.
Check out Facebook or regional plant groups as well. Even if no one gives a free fiddle leaf fig tree, the plants given are typically more affordable and suited to your location.
Additionally, fiddle leaf fig trees do not require fertilization to survive, so you do not need to be concerned if your budget is limited. And although while they appreciate being slightly rootbound, if you are not fertilizing, you might want to think about aerating your plant once or twice a year.
What does “fiddle-leaf fig” mean?
Have you ever questioned the origin of the name “fiddle leaf fig plant” for the Ficus lyrata? Really, it’s obvious. The plant’s name refers to its violin-like leaves, which seem like a fiddle.
The size of the leaves is also adjustable. Up to 12 inches wide, they are. Moreover, it is impressively 30 inches long.
Everybody who has a fiddle leaf fig plant in their living room is familiar with how thick the leaves are. Those broad, leathery leaves are an eye-catching dark green.
There are multiple instances of the tree growing up to 60 feet tall, taking into account the tree as a whole. To put that into perspective, a bowling lane’s length, measured vertically, is roughly 60 feet.
Where are figs originally from?
The edible fruit of the fig plant, Ficus carica, a member of the Moraceae family of berries. The common fig is native to a region that stretches from Asiatic Turkey to northern India, but it is also grown as a crop in most Mediterranean nations due to their mild weather. The fig is referred to as “the poor man’s food” in the Mediterranean region due to its widespread use, both fresh and dried. Significant levels of calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and iron are present in the fruit.
One of the first fruit trees to be planted was the fig, whose cultivation spanned the Levant and all the areas around the Aegean Sea in ancient times. It is believed that the Greeks brought it from Caria, hence the unique name. Attic figs gained popularity in the East, and special rules were enacted to control their exports. One of the main sources of food for the Greeks was the fig, which the Spartans used particularly at their communal tables. Pliny the Elder listed numerous types and stated that those grown at home provided the majority of the food for slaves. The fig tree that shaded the twin founders of Rome in the wolf’s cave was a symbol of the race’s future riches. The fig was sacred to Bacchus in Latin myth and used in religious rituals.
Does fiddle leaf fig work well in bedrooms?
Given how frequently it appears in home publications, television shows, and blogs, the fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) is one of the most popular houseplants right now. The appropriate lighting is crucial to keeping your plant healthy in a bedroom environment because its huge leaves are its focus point.
The gloomy understory of the jungle is ideal for fiddle leaf figs, but indirect light from an east-facing window also promotes their growth. To improve the humidity around the plant, place your fiddle leaf fig on a plate of stones with water in it. In conclusion, the fiddle leaf fig prefers everything in moderation, including temperature, water, and light. Your plant will suffer if there is an imbalance between these components.
How healthy are fiddle leaf figs?
Fiddle leaf figs could be good for your body. Indoor plants have been demonstrated to improve our perception of ambient temperature, lower blood pressure, soothe the nervous system, and lift our emotions. They also increase the humidity in a space, which is good for the respiratory system.