{"product_id":"ficus-microcarpa-nitida-standards","title":"Indian Laurel Fig (Standard) - Ficus microcarpa ‘Nitida’","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrice includes everything:\u003c\/strong\u003e the plant, free delivery and professional installation by our planting team. One price, whole job done.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIndian Laurel Fig (Standard) - Ficus microcarpa ‘Nitida’\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrained as a standard, \u003cem\u003eFicus microcarpa\u003c\/em\u003e ‘Nitida’ becomes a clean single trunk carrying a dense, clipped head of small glossy leaves, closer to a piece of green architecture than a tree. The head takes shearing better than almost any other evergreen used in Australian design work, holding a crisp ball or lollipop outline with two or three cuts a year. It is specified where formal repetition is the point: matched pairs at an entry, or an even rhythm of identical heads down a driveway.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eWhy Indian Laurel Fig Standard\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTrained form\u003c\/strong\u003e: A clear straight trunk with a shaped head gives instant formality and keeps sight lines open beneath the canopy.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShear tolerance\u003c\/strong\u003e: Small dense leaves mean clipping leaves no ragged cut edges, so the surface stays smooth and green.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRapid recovery\u003c\/strong\u003e: It reshoots quickly after pruning, which is what allows the tight geometric shape to be maintained long term.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeat and reflected glare\u003c\/strong\u003e: It handles paved courtyards, north facing walls and warm coastal exposure without scorching.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eContainer performance\u003c\/strong\u003e: The root system copes with confinement, which is why it is the default choice for large planter box specimens.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eIdeal Applications\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFormal entry pairs\u003c\/strong\u003e: Two matched standards either side of a doorway or gate deliver symmetry that lasts decades.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDriveway rhythm\u003c\/strong\u003e: Evenly spaced heads along a drive create a repeating pattern that reads well from the street.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRooftop and podium planters\u003c\/strong\u003e: In large containers it gives height and structure where in-ground planting is impossible.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCourtyard framing\u003c\/strong\u003e: A row against a rendered wall breaks up flat surfaces without spreading into usable floor space.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eSpecimen \u0026amp; Installation\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing (screening\/hedge):\u003c\/strong\u003e 2 to 2.5m for a clipped formal row\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing (feature\/avenue):\u003c\/strong\u003e 3 to 4m\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBest Planting Season:\u003c\/strong\u003e Spring through summer in warm districts; avoid cold snaps in the south\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil \u0026amp; Drainage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Free draining loam or a quality free draining container mix. Site selection matters more than soil: the root system is vigorous and invasive, so keep it well away from pipes, pool shells, paving and footings, or contain it in a planter or root controlled bed.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEstablishment Care:\u003c\/strong\u003e Water two to three times a week for the first summer, and more often in containers where the mix dries fast. Feed in spring and midsummer to keep the head dense, clip lightly two or three times through the growing season rather than hard once, and rub off any shoots appearing on the clear trunk as soon as they show.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003ePlant Details\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3 to 4.5m as a maintained standard\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.5 to 2.5m across the clipped head\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fast\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Evergreen\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun to part shade\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNative to:\u003c\/strong\u003e Southern Asia through to northern Australia and the western Pacific\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlower Colour:\u003c\/strong\u003e Insignificant, enclosed within the small figs\n\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nursery Direct","offers":[{"title":"400mm","offer_id":59795355304222,"sku":"ND-0779-400MM","price":800.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1000\/2536\/8862\/files\/bAyFBHzsZvhtHS0mn8YR5_AXzUThNs.jpg?v=1787314050","url":"https:\/\/nurserydirect.com.au\/products\/ficus-microcarpa-nitida-standards","provider":"Nursery Direct","version":"1.0","type":"link"}