Fiddle Leaf Fig, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Fiddle leaf fig is a bold tropical tree with huge, violin-shaped leaves, and in Southwest Florida it does well outdoors in a sheltered, bright spot. It suits a courtyard, a lanai edge or a big pot. It dislikes cold, wind, salt spray and soggy soil, and in the ground it can become a 30 ft tree, so plan the space.
- Light:
- Bright light with morning sun or filtered afternoon light; hot afternoon sun can scorch the leaves
- Water:
- Moderate; evenly moist, never soggy
- Salt:
- Low; salt spray and wind tatter the big leaves
Ficus Lyrata (Fiddle Leaf Fig) sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Ficus Lyrata (Fiddle Leaf Fig) | 7 Gallon |
Ficus Lyrata (Fiddle Leaf Fig) in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 4 to 10 ft in a container; 30 to 40 ft or more in the ground over many years
- Light
- Bright light with morning sun or filtered afternoon light; hot afternoon sun can scorch the leaves
- Water
- Moderate; evenly moist, never soggy
- Salt tolerance
- Low; salt spray and wind tatter the big leaves
- Cold tolerance
- Cold-tender: leaves can spot or blacken in the 30s°F, so keep it sheltered and cover or move potted plants on cold nights
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Florida native
- No, native to West Africa
- Botanical name
- Ficus lyrata
Where Ficus Lyrata (Fiddle Leaf Fig) works in a SW Florida yard
Place a fiddle leaf fig where it gets bright light with morning sun or filtered afternoon light, plus shelter from wind and cold: a courtyard, a lanai edge, or an entry planter you can move.
In the ground, give it 15 to 20 ft from the house, pool and pipes, because a big ficus grows a big root system. Bromeliads, philodendron and ti plant suit it.
- Sheltered courtyard tree
- Large patio planter
- Bold tropical accent
- Entry planter
How our crew plants it
Choose a fast-draining spot out of the wind. Dig twice as wide as the pot, set the top of the root ball level with the soil, and mulch 2 inches off the trunk. Water in well and keep it evenly moist, never soggy; Lee and Collier allow extra watering for new plantings while it settles.
We plant it, water it in, and clean up.
Care after planting
- Water when the top inch or two of soil dries, and never let it sit wet, since root rot in the rainy season is the usual killer.
- Shelter it from wind, which tears and browns the big leaves, and rinse salt off the foliage after a blustery day near the coast.
- Cover or move potted plants on frost nights, and keep ground plantings under an eave or tree canopy.
- Feed with a slow-release fertilizer with micronutrients in spring and early October, and skip nitrogen and phosphorus from June 1 to September 30 under the Lee County, Naples and Marco Island ban.
What to watch for
- Brown spots on the leaves usually mean overwatering, cold, wind or leaf spot disease, so fix the watering first and avoid wetting the foliage at night.
- The milky sap can irritate skin, and the leaves are toxic to dogs and cats if chewed, so keep pets from nibbling.
Ficus Lyrata (Fiddle Leaf Fig) questions we hear
Can you grow a fiddle leaf fig outdoors in Florida?+
Yes, in a sheltered spot. It does well in Southwest Florida's warmth and humidity with bright light and protection from wind, salt and cold. Plant it in a courtyard or use a large pot you can move on cold nights. In the ground it grows into a big tree, so give it room.
How big does a fiddle leaf fig get in the ground?+
In the ground in Florida it can reach 30 to 40 ft or more over many years, with a wide canopy and a strong root system. In a large container it stays 4 to 10 ft. Plan for the larger size if you plant it in the landscape, and keep it 15 to 20 ft from the house.
Why are my fiddle leaf fig's leaves turning brown or dropping?+
Overwatering, cold, wind and salt are the usual causes. Brown spots with soggy soil point to root rot or leaf spot, while torn, crisp edges point to wind and salt. Let the soil dry slightly between waterings, move it out of wind, and protect it on cold nights.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Ficus Lyrata (Fiddle Leaf Fig)
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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