Can anyone help me find a source this elusive plant- Ficus sagittata variegata?(top). I can find the regular green one (bottom), but not the variegated one. We used to have it in hanging pots back it the 70's in SoCal, but now I'm convinced it's on the verge of extinction! Thanks everyone!

52 views and no one can find this? I think it's gone the way of the dinosaurs!

This also is sometimes listed as F. repens, but I just call it impossible to find!
82 views- by tropical plant lovers. Someone has to have seen this plant somewhere-haven't they?

It's really beautiful, Paul, but I've never seen it. It might be one of those plants that everyone has and never thinks about, or it might have been re-named, too. Another thing that happens with some variegated forms is that they revert after a few years, and the cultivars can disappear if nobody keeps them going.

I have a tricolor jasmine groundcover that looks very similar, though. Its new leaves come out pink, turn white then develop the green markings later.

The thing that's so frustrating is that it used to be widely available. Then I heard that cold weather in Fl wiped out most of it. Glass House Works had it in their catalog, so I ordered one (a year ago), only to be told they had 'lost' the plant...so close, and yet so far away!
Many of the growers I've contacted have never heard of it. I planted it outside as groundcover in SoCal but it died out due to the cold- (it's from SE Asia), but I haven't seen it in over 30 years. I've got a 'snow in summer' asiatic jasmine, with white and pink variation. But now this plant has become an obsession

Angel's Exotics also used to have it years ago - was occasionally supplied at Home Depot & Lowes. I had it at one time, too, but lost it. I've had the same troubles trying to find it again (with no luck thus far).

Maybe there was some disease or insect that got it.

It was easy to grow, never had a pest problem. If it dried out, it didn't recover.(that's how I killed it one time.Exotic Angel plants say they grow it, but can't get me one?!!?, as availability is always changing. My quest continues........

A grower in Florida told me that they lost most of their stock plants during a particularly cold winter. They said they were growing some more and they'd be ready this spring. But when I followed up with them they still didn't have it. And like I said before Exotic Angel plants says they grow it but can't get a plan to me. I just can't believe no one in the universe grows it. LOL.

Is this the plant you're looking for?

SoCalDawg: I believe the plants in your photo are a variegated variety of Ficus elastica.

I did a search on Fiscus. Maybe it went through a name change. Look at this and see what you think. They are calling it Fiscus Benjamina Starlight

http://www.herveybaynurseries....

Thee are absolutely not the same Ficus species.
Ficus sagittata is a trailing, creeping type of Ficus.
Ficus elastica is a very large tree with large (more than hand-size) leaves.
Ficus benjamina has similar leaves as the F. elastica but they are much smaller, about 2-3 inches. This also has the potential to become a very large tree.
These all come in green and variegated versions.

with Hetty.

Ficus sagittata is a creeping, trailing plant; Ficus benjamina i(Weeping Fig) is a shrub or tree. I have a F. benjamina variegata: Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina 'Variegata') that I bought as a tiny little plant @ 20 years ago. It's a container plant that stays to a height of about 5' but many benjamina's grow quite tall. My sister in south Florida had a few in her yard years ago that were taller than the house and I've seen them kept as hedges here in the more southerly parts of the state too. With my little tree, the leaves started out with very white variegation but as the plant has aged they've turned more of a creamy yellow and aren't as pretty in my opinion. I've grown many of the solid green benjamina's over the years as container plants but they just got so huge and became so root bound it was a hassle pruning the roots so I finally got rid of them all and only kept my little variegated Weeping Fig that seems to stay to a more manageable size; although it really needs repotting badly.

I've never seen the F. sagittata for sale around here that I can remember and after searching the internet, I don't find it listed as available for sale anywhere either. It sure is a pretty plant though and I'm thinking it would make a great hanging basket!

Hetty and Lin,
You're both correct on your ID's. This one's a beautiful trailer/hanging basket candidate-It's just not available ANYWHERE!

Paul

481 plant lovers viewing this, and no one has seen this beauty. What a shame! There just might be a demand for it in the marketplace.

I've kept my eye open, but still no go...

How big are the leaves? They look to be about 2 in.?

If I remember correctly, they're about 3" or so long and about 1" or so wide.

Yup, that's my recollection too, maybe a bit smaller. 653 views....No one has this plant, anywhere!