Rubber Plant Varieties

Home / Guides

What all rubber plants share

All rubber plant cultivars are varieties of Ficus elastica, a large tree native to the rainforests of India and Southeast Asia. In their natural habitat they grow into enormous forest trees; as houseplants they become dramatic, upright statement plants with large, glossy leaves. All produce a milky latex sap when injured, which is toxic to pets and irritating to human skin (handle with gloves when pruning).

Care is broadly consistent across cultivars: bright indirect light (with variegated forms needing more than the dark forms), watering when the top inch of soil dries, protection from cold drafts and temperatures below 55F, and occasional leaf wiping to keep the large surfaces clean and the plant growing well. The main difference between cultivars is color, variegation, and light requirement.

Classic green (Ficus elastica)

The standard form has large, oval, glossy dark green leaves with a slightly lighter midrib and a pink-red sheath protecting each new leaf as it unfurls. It is the most common rubber plant in garden centers and the most tolerant of variable light conditions. In good light it grows steadily, with new leaves emerging every few weeks during the growing season.

It is slightly more forgiving of lower light than the variegated cultivars, though it grows more slowly and the leaves become more spaced out in dim conditions. A good choice for someone wanting a reliable, low-maintenance large foliage plant.

Burgundy

Burgundy is the most popular rubber plant cultivar. Its leaves are a very deep, almost black maroon color rather than green, with the same glossy surface as the classic form. New leaves emerge from a bright red sheath, intensifying the dramatic effect. The dark leaves look striking against light-colored walls and create a strong visual contrast in well-lit spaces.

It tolerates the same range of light as the classic form and is equally forgiving of some neglect. In lower light the deep color can appear almost solid black; in brighter light the burgundy tones are more visible. One of the best rubber plant choices for a modern or minimalist interior.

Abidjan

Abidjan is very similar to Burgundy but with leaves that are even darker, sometimes appearing almost completely black in certain light. The name refers to the capital of Ivory Coast. It is sometimes marketed as the "black rubber plant" and is the darkest of all rubber plant cultivars.

Care is identical to Burgundy. Like all dark-leafed rubber plants it is quite forgiving of varied light conditions, though it grows faster with more light. Less commonly found than Burgundy but worth seeking out for the deepest possible leaf color.

Ruby

Ruby is the most colorful rubber plant cultivar. New leaves emerge from the sheath in vivid red or bright coral-pink, then gradually mature to dark green with a pink or red midrib that persists. At any given time a Ruby rubber plant has leaves in multiple stages from deep pink to mature green, which makes it one of the most visually dynamic houseplants available.

Ruby requires significantly more light than Burgundy or the classic form. In medium or low light the pink coloration fades rapidly and new leaves emerge dull green with minimal pink. Position it in the brightest indirect light available, ideally near an east or south-facing window. The extra light demand is the trade-off for the striking color.

Tineke

Tineke has a variegated pattern combining cream or white, pale green, and dark green in irregular sections across each leaf. New growth often has a pinkish tint on the cream sections before they mature. No two leaves look exactly the same, and the overall effect is lighter and more airy than the dark-leafed forms.

Like all variegated plants, Tineke needs more light than its all-green relatives because the white sections of the leaf contain less chlorophyll. In low light the cream variegation reduces, and new leaves emerge with more green and less cream. Keep it in bright indirect light to maintain the full variegation. It grows more slowly than the classic and Burgundy forms.

Variegata

Variegata is similar to Tineke but typically has a different balance of colors: more green with irregular cream or white sections rather than the larger pale zones of Tineke. The variegation is often described as more subtle than Tineke's, with green as the dominant color. Different growers use the names Tineke and Variegata somewhat interchangeably, so there can be overlap between what you find in stores labeled one way or the other.

Care requirements are the same as Tineke: bright indirect light, consistent watering, protection from cold.

Robusta

Robusta is a large-leafed form with particularly wide, very glossy green leaves. It is one of the fastest-growing rubber plant cultivars and can reach significant size indoors given enough light. Less commonly sold than the colored cultivars, it is worth seeking out if you want a classic, bold green rubber plant with impressive leaf size.