What it is: This listing is a plant sold as Ficus elastica Shivereana (rubber plant). This care follows rubber-plant guidance.

Light: Bright indirect light or partial shade suits it; protect it from harsh afternoon sun (NC State Extension; Clemson HGIC). Clemson HGIC notes rubber plants adapt to lower light but grow best with morning east light. A grow bulb can help in dark winters. No light level guarantees how bold the variegation on new leaves will stay.

Watering & care: Water regularly, then let the mix dry slightly between waterings; avoid overwatering (NC State Extension; Clemson HGIC). Use a well-drained houseplant mix. Water less from fall through late winter when growth slows (NC State Extension).

Humidity: Medium home humidity is usually fine; very dry air can stress leaves (NC State Extension). A room humidifier helps in winter; a pebble tray gives only a small, local boost.

Temperature: Keep it warm and away from cold drafts; NC State Extension suggests temperatures above about 13 °C (55 °F) for common indoor Ficus (NC State Extension). Clemson HGIC suggests roughly 16–18 °C (60–65 °F) nights and 24–27 °C (75–80 °F) days for rubber plants, avoiding sudden drops.

Winter indoors: In winter, keep it away from cold windows, drafts and heating vents, water less often as growth slows, and still check the mix before watering. Avoid moving it often if it is a weeping fig, which can drop leaves after a move.

Expected indoor size: As a houseplant, NC State Extension lists many common Ficus trees about 0.6–3 m (2–10 ft) tall when trained or supported indoors. Clemson HGIC notes rubber plants can reach about 1.8–3 m (6–10 ft) or more indoors if there is space, and they can be pruned to stay smaller. How large yours gets depends on light, warmth, pot size, pruning and care, and we can't promise a particular height, leaf size, shape or pattern.

Feeding: Feed lightly in spring and summer while it is growing (Clemson HGIC); our Schultz All Purpose Plant Food works at a light dilution. Ease off in fall and winter.

Pets & pests: The milky latex sap can irritate skin; gloves are wise when pruning (NC State Extension; Clemson HGIC). Ficus is toxic to dogs, cats and horses if chewed or eaten (ASPCA; NC State Extension). Keep it out of reach of pets and children. Watch for scale, mealybugs, spider mites, thrips and aphids (NC State Extension).

About your plant: Every plant is a little different. Size, fullness, leaf count and variegation vary from plant to plant and change with age and light; young plants may not yet show mature leaf features, so we can't promise a particular leaf size, shape or pattern. The size option (4") refers to the pot diameter. It does not guarantee an exact plant height, trail length or leaf count. We don't have our own photos of this plant yet. The gallery image is a shared Ficus graphic for inspiration only; it does not show this plant.