Ficus has been the go-to indoor tree for decades, its glossy leaves and upright branching bringing a full-grown, established look to any room within just a few years.
A large genus that includes the weeping fig, rubber plant, and fiddle-leaf fig, ficus is native to tropical regions worldwide and has become one of the most widely grown indoor tree genera, though many varieties are famously particular about being moved or having their routine disrupted.
Ficus wants bright, indirect light and a consistent spot — it's notorious for dropping leaves in protest after being moved, exposed to a draft, or watered on an irregular schedule. Once settled into a stable routine, though, it's a remarkably tough, long-lived indoor tree.
Wiping ficus leaves down periodically keeps dust from blocking light absorption and also makes it easier to spot early signs of common pests like scale or spider mites.
