11 Different Types of Rubber Plants to Grow Indoors

This post may contains affiliate links. If you click and buy we may make a commission, at no additional charge to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more details.

A rubber plant belongs to the Moraceae family. They are scientifically known as ficus elastica. You will find this plant natively grown in South Asia and Southeast Asia.

Rubber plants are well grown indoors because they need low light, i.e., bright indirect sunlight, to survive. These plants need the right amount of water as excess water may spoil the plant and cause rot. The amount of water should be enough so that the soil remains saturated.

Rubber plants add up to the beauty of the house. They are glossy, shiny plants that grow up to 50ft tall. People prefer putting a rubber plant near a window with curtains because the plant will receive direct sunlight, which is not much hot, preventing the leaves from getting burnt.

It is preferred to water the rubber plants once a week or wipe them with a soaked cloth in the growing season. If the plant is spoilt, the leaves will turn yellow and wither.

Like other plants, rubber plants are also of different types, classified based on their appearance. The current types of rubber plants grown indoors.

Types of Rubber Plants to Grow Outdoors

Let us understand how you can plant the above eleven types of rubber plants indoors.

1. Robusta

Robusta
Image Credit: https://bumbleandfawn.com/

This plant is scientifically known as “Ficus elastica robusta“. ‘Robusta‘ is a hard plant with large leathery foliage. It produces dark green, glossy leaves, tiny white blossoms, yellow in the middle, and oblong yellow fruits.

However, it is grown in indirect sunlight with a well-drained and damp pot. It grows up to 30 ft tall.

2. Tricolor

Tricolor
Image Credit: https://balconygardenweb.com/

This plant is scientifically known as Ficus elastica ‘tricolor‘. It is a very renowned indoor plant in colder regions. It can rise to 10 ft tall and spread up to 5ft.

It is an ornamental plant that produces large oval, glossy leaves, pink, green, and cream in color. The plant’s growth depends on the size of the pot it is growing, the amount of indirect sunlight it receives, the frequency of pot changing, rechanging, etc.

Tricolor is an indoor plant; not at all meant to grow outdoors.

3. Tineke

Tineke
Image Credit: https://www.chooseyourplant.com/

Another kind of rubber plant grown indoors is the Tineke rubber plant. It is scientifically known as the Ficus elastica Tineke rubber plant. It grows up to 30ft tall which are medium-sized trees that are not much tall.

The unique feature of this plant is that it has broad leaves that are of a wide variety of patterns of cream and green colors and are burgundy in color when young.

They are grown in indirect sunlight. Too much sunlight may harm the plant, and too little may not allow it to grow. So place it somewhere where it receives indirect sunlight the highest.

Hence it is a gorgeous and colorful plant. This plant grows well in a moist, freely drained pot using sand.

4. Decora

Decora
Image Credit: https://www.ourhouseplants.com/

Another beautiful rubber plant is scientifically known as Ficus elastica decora. Decora is famous because it is shiny. It has thick, dark green leaves that can reach a foot’s length.

To make a decora plant grow well, we need to water the plant immediately as we find the soil has dried and make sure that the soil has enough holes so that the water can seep easily.

Ficus decora can grow from 50-100 ft tall.

5. Doescheri

Doescheri
Image Credit: https://balconygardenweb.com/

This rubber plant is an evergreen plant, scientifically known as Doescheri. It is an evergreen tree with elliptic, dark green-grey blotched leaves with narrow margins of creamy white.

The leaf stalks are of the pink color underside. It is a disease-free plant. It grows in a frost-free area and is fed with a nitrogen fertilizer once a month.

6. Burguny

Burguny
Image Credit: https://bloomscape.com/

It is a great indoor rubber plant. Scientifically, it is known as the Ficus Elastica burgundy rubber plant. It makes the house look beautiful to the utmost. This plant is natively grown in Northeast India.

This plant has lovely dark red-colored leaves. Its color may vary as its position facing the sun may vary. It is known because it gives a sticky sap, giving itself the name of a rubber plant. It can be kept anywhere and everywhere, including the bathroom, bedroom, office, etc., requiring low maintenance.

Keeping this plant in our house is advantageous as it acts as an air purifier. It increases humidity rates. Being an excellent houseplant, this plant reduces stress and anxiety.

Also Read: 21 Different Types of Ferns Plant – Indoor & Outdoor Varieties

7. Adibjan

Adibjan
Image Credit: https://leafy-life.com/

It is an evergreen rubber plant, scientifically known as Ficus Elastica adibjan. It is a tender plant belonging to the Moraceae family.

Adibjan produces oval, dark purple-colored glossy, leathery leaves. It spreads up to 2ft if the pot size allows it.

Mainly, it grows in Northeast India, Eastern Himalayas, and Southeast Asia. This plant is poisonous, as it produces sap; hence you must keep it out of reach of children. It rises well in bright indirect sunlight and dries up or falls in direct sunlight.

8. Melany

Melany
Image Credit: https://www.theimanproject.com/

Melany rubber plant is scientifically known as Ficus elastica Melany. It is a lush living sculpture of dense, broad, glossy leaves similar to that of burgundy.

Melany ficus plants grow in bright indirect sunlight. We should avoid certain drops in temperature or cold weather conditions. We Should avoid overwatering; it can cause leaf drops.

This rubber plant does not require much humid climate, but to make it grow better and quickly, we must grow it in a room where it may receive steam, e.g., bathroom, kitchen, etc. We should avoid droughts to make them grow well.

It grows well in an environment with a temperature between 16 degrees Celcius to 24 degrees Celcius. To enrich the growth of this plant, we should apply fertilizer every fortnight or month during the growing season.

9. Red Ruby

Red Ruby
Image Credit: https://plantsworld.in/

Red Ruby is a tender evergreen tree. It produces oval green leaves filled with pink and cream. Additionally, they have oblong yellow-centered fruits and small white centers.

Ruby plants are quick-growing plants and can reach a height of up to 30m. These plants act as air purifiers. They need low maintenance, i.e., they are easy to grow. Moreover, they can grow in the shade as well. If planted in a pot, you can see their height up to 6ft.

The Ruby plant can be attractive in a house and an office. To grow a healthy ruby plant, you should water the plant evenly so that the soil is not soggy. You water the plant evenly and generously with lukewarm water, then tip out any excess water. Wipe the plant with a damp cloth to make its leaves shiny. It would be best if you reduced watering during the cold season.

Bonus Read: Garden Soil: How to Prepare Garden Soil for Planting?

10. Black Prince

Black Prince
Image Credit: https://www.epicgardening.com/

Ficus elastica is the scientific name for the Black Prince. It is an ornamental plant. It grows up to 30 meters tall in its natural habitat, whereas it grows of a manageable length when it grows.

It has excellent foliage. For the black Prince to grow, we must keep the soil moist but not that moist that it keeps draining and leaking. It should be moist, so the plant absorbs water and sunlight.

It can survive from 60 degrees Fahrenheit to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also wipe the leaves with a damp cloth to keep the plant moist, absorb sun rays, and grow well.

It is an excellent indoor plant as it removes toxic air and acts as an air purifier. It can survive if the plant is not watered at infrequent intervals regularly.

It can reach heights and make your house look more attractive and decorative. It depends upon you whether you require lengthy plants. Otherwise, these plants tend to grow vertically upwards. Hence, they are effortless to take care of and make the house look fashionable.

11. Yellow Gem

Yellow Gem
Image Credit: https://www.briansbotanicals.net/

The yellow Gem rubber plant is scientifically known as Ficus Altissima, a tropical plant. It is a bold variegated rubber tree that grows bright yellow with beautifully produced yellow leaves indoors with large, leathery elliptic centered leaves edged in bright gold. They grow up to 9feet tall.

They are drought resistant. The yellow gem needs proper sunlight; otherwise, extreme darkness can lead to the shedding of leaves. The bright color of yellow leaves will gradually vanish away, and the leaves may start falling off or get burnt as the light levels changes ( increase /decrease). It should be of a perfect amount.

Yellow gem hardly attracts the whitefly. These plants can quickly be grown indoors and planted in a big pot using humus-rich soil. You must keep them away from frost.

Conclusion

Rubber plants are better grown indoors than in a nursery, garden, or outdoors. Any rubber plant needs indirect sunlight and a well-drained spot to grow.

Rubber plants make our house attractive and decorative. Some plants produce sticky sap, so children should not be allowed to touch them because it is poisonous.

Read More: 10 Different Types of Money Plant with Pictures & Information

Leave a Comment