Green Island Ficus, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Green Island ficus does one job well: a low, glossy hedge that stays knee to waist high in Southwest Florida's sun or part shade. It grows slowly, takes clipping cleanly, and frames walkways, entries and foundation beds without blocking windows or views. It is a small clipped shrub, not a big ficus tree, so it suits tight spaces.
- Light:
- Full sun to part shade
- Water:
- Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established
- Salt:
- Moderate; fine on most canal lots, not for the open beachfront
Green Island Ficus 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 |
|---|---|
| Green Island Ficus | 3 Gallon |
Green Island Ficus in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 18 to 24 in tall as a clipped border; about 3 to 4 ft tall and 3 to 5 ft wide if left to grow
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established
- Salt tolerance
- Moderate; fine on most canal lots, not for the open beachfront
- Cold tolerance
- Leaves burn and tips can die back around 30 to 32°F; coastal Lee and Collier is usually fine, protect young plants inland on frost nights
- Growth rate
- Slow to moderate
- Spacing
- 18 to 24 in on center for a tight border hedge
- Florida native
- No, the species is native to tropical Asia
- Botanical name
- Ficus microcarpa 'Green Island'
Where Green Island Ficus works in a SW Florida yard
Use Green Island ficus where you want crisp, low structure: along a front walk, around a mailbox or entry bed, or as a knee-high border in front of taller foundation shrubs. Because the leaves are small and glossy, it reads as formal even when it is only 18 to 24 in tall.
Plant it in front of cocoplum or Walter's viburnum for a layered look, or let dwarf ixora add color alongside it. Keep it in clipped beds close to the house, not along preserves or shorelines.
- Low formal border hedge
- Walkway and entry edging
- Foundation planting
- Pots and clipped shapes
How our crew plants it
For a clean line, we run a string and set each 3 gallon plant at the same depth it grew in the pot, spaced 18 to 24 in on center. Holes are about twice as wide as the pot. We backfill with native soil, water in well, and mulch two inches deep, pulled back from the stems.
New plants get extra water for the first weeks under the allowance Lee and Collier give new plantings, then your assigned two days.
Care after planting
- Clip lightly and often, since heavy cuts into bare wood can leave gaps that fill slowly.
- Wear gloves when trimming, because the milky ficus sap irritates skin in some people.
- Feed with a slow-release fertilizer that includes micronutrients in March and October, and skip June 1 to September 30 in Lee County, Naples and Marco Island.
- Mulch two inches deep to keep the shallow roots cool and moist through the dry season.
What to watch for
- The species it comes from, Ficus microcarpa (laurel fig), is listed as invasive in Florida by FLEPPC, so we keep Green Island in clipped beds near the house and suggest natives like dwarf yaupon holly or Simpson stopper beside preserves, shorelines and conservation land.
- Ficus whitefly and leaf-curling thrips can hit ficus hedges here, and sooty mold follows heavy whitefly pressure, so check new growth and treat early.
Green Island Ficus questions we hear
How tall does Green Island ficus get?+
Kept clipped, Green Island ficus stays 18 to 24 in tall, which is how most people use it. Left to grow it can reach about 3 to 4 ft tall and wider than tall. Growth is slow to moderate, so a border takes a couple of seasons to fill in and hold its shape.
How far apart do I plant Green Island ficus for a hedge?+
Plant 3 gallon Green Island ficus 18 to 24 in apart, center to center, for a tight low hedge that closes within a couple of years. Go a little wider if you want a looser, more rounded border. Run a string line so the row stays straight as it fills in.
Is Green Island ficus invasive in Florida?+
The species it comes from, Ficus microcarpa, is on the FLEPPC invasive plant list. Green Island is a small, slow, clipped form that we plant in beds near the house. Near preserves, canals with native shoreline or conservation land, we suggest native shrubs like dwarf yaupon holly or Simpson stopper instead.
Are Green Island ficus roots a problem near the house or pool?+
Not at this size. The large ficus trees are the ones with aggressive roots, while Green Island stays a small clipped shrub. Still, keep it a foot or two off the foundation and pool deck so you have room to clip it and air can move through.
Will salt or cold hurt Green Island ficus in Cape Coral or Fort Myers?+
Salt tolerance is moderate, so it does fine on most canal lots but can burn in constant spray on the open waterfront. Cold is the bigger risk: leaves burn around 30 to 32°F. Coastal Lee is usually fine, while inland Lehigh Acres and North Fort Myers may need young plants covered on frost nights.
How much does it cost to have a Green Island ficus hedge planted?+
Hedge length drives the price, along with the spacing and how much bed prep the run needs. Send us the length of the run and we text a planted price, usually within the hour during the day. Half down holds the plants and a delivery day.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Green Island Ficus
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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