Ficus elastica 'Tineke' (Rubber Plant) – Variegated Indoor Houseplant (12cm Pot)

The Ficus elastica 'Tineke' is a variegated form of the classic rubber plant, its large, glossy leaves splashed with cream and pale green against the deeper green of the species, often blushed with pink, so no two leaves look quite the same.

It grows upright and bold, with big paddle shaped leaves that make it a strong architectural houseplant for a living room, hallway or bright bathroom. Ficus elastica can be sensitive to change: moving it, draughts or irregular watering can all cause it to drop leaves, so once you find it a happy spot it is best left there.

Supplied in a 1 litre nursery pot, ready to pot on into a decorative planter of your choice. Give it bright, indirect light, away from direct harsh sun and cold draughts, and let the top of the compost dry out between waterings, watering less in winter. Feed monthly with a balanced liquid fertiliser through spring and summer, and wipe the leaves occasionally with a damp cloth to keep them glossy and working.

Ficus is toxic to cats and dogs if eaten, and the milky sap can irritate skin, so keep it somewhere pets cannot reach.

Cultural Information

• Common Name: Variegated Rubber Plant
• Fully Grown Height and Spread: Up to 200cm tall indoors (variety and conditions dependent)
• Growth Habit: Upright and architectural, with large paddle shaped leaves
• Perfect For: Living rooms, hallways, bright bathrooms and conservatories
• Foliage: Large, glossy leaves variegated in cream, pale green, dark green and blush pink
• Planting Position: Bright, indirect light, away from cold draughts
• Hardiness: Tender indoor plant (RHS H1b), will not tolerate temperatures below about 10C
• Maintenance: Allow the top of the compost to dry out between waterings, reducing further in winter; feed monthly in spring and summer
• Type: Tender evergreen houseplant