Ficus elastica 'Abidjan' Plants GrowTropicals
Variegated Ficus

Ficus elastica 'Abidjan'

£8.99 £10.99 SAVE 18%
Hard to killAir-purifying
Pot size

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Complete the set up
Simply Houseplant - Tropical Houseplant Potting Mix
The perfect soil Simply Houseplant - Tropical Houseplant Potting Mix · 2.5L · £3.99
Description

Ficus elastica 'Abidjan' is known for its deep, dark glossy foliage, which ranges from dark green to almost black, depending on light conditions. The leaves are thick, leathery, and elliptical in shape, with a prominent central vein. New growth often emerges with a reddish tint before maturing into darker shades, adding to its distinctive appearance. The intensity of the dark colouring can vary; brighter indirect light enhances the burgundy tones, while lower light conditions may cause the leaves to appear darker green.

The dark foliage of 'Abidjan' is due to higher concentrations of anthocyanins, pigments that help protect the plant from excessive light exposure. This makes it more tolerant of a wider range of indoor conditions compared to lighter-leaved Ficus varieties. The striking contrast of its dark leaves against lighter surroundings makes it a bold choice for interior spaces. Regular cleaning of the foliage helps maintain its glossy finish, allowing the plant to absorb light more efficiently.

Native to: Ficus abidjan is a cultivated variety of Ficus elastica, originally native to the tropical regions of Southeast Asia, including India, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, and Malaysia.

Water: Water your Ficus abidjan once the soil becomes slightly dry to the touch. Ensure that the pot has sufficient drainage holes to prevent waterlogging, which can lead to root rot. Consistent but moderate watering is key to keeping this plant healthy.

Light: This plant thrives in bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight can scorch its leaves, while too little light can cause the variegation to fade. A spot near a window with filtered light is ideal.

Humidity: Ficus abidjan does well in normal room humidity. To boost humidity, especially during warm summer months, mist the leaves occasionally. This helps keep the foliage vibrant and healthy.

Temperature: Average room temperature is perfect for Ficus abidjan. Keep the plant away from cold drafts near windows or doors during the cooler months, as it prefers a stable environment with temperatures between 18°C to 24°C.

Note: Regularly dust the leaves to maintain their glossy appearance and help the plant photosynthesize efficiently.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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7 day live arrival guarantee
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How to care for Ficus elastica 'Abidjan'

Set me near a bright window, out of direct sun and give me a drink when my upper soil has dried out.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
Get to know me

About Ficus elastica 'Abidjan'

Ficus elastica 'Abidjan' is an easy-care houseplant. It needs bright indirect light, watering once the top 2 to 3cm of compost has dried out, average household humidity and a minimum temperature of 13°C. Its sap can irritate skin and mouths, so keep it away from pets and small children.

Good for

Living Room Bedroom

Care level

EasyChallenge

Easy care

Light

ShadeFull sun

Bright, indirect light

Watering

Evenly moistDries out fully

Let the top few centimetres dry out

Humidity

Average homeHigh humidity

Happy at normal household humidity

Temperature

Keep above 13°C · Happy at normal room temperature

Feeding

Feed monthly with a balanced fertiliser from spring to autumn, and let it rest over winter.

Growth habit

Upright →Tree-form →

Plant type

Foliage houseplant →

Toxicity

The sap can irritate skin and mouths. Wash your hands after handling and keep it away from pets and small children.

Genus

Ficus →
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Meet the family

Everything about Ficus

Ficus plants are a popular houseplant choice and have been for decades. With their glossy foliage and ability to adapt to indoor conditions, they make beautiful additions to homes and offices. Ficus plants belong to the Moraceae family and are native to tro...

More about Ficus care
Ficus Care Guide
Why Grow Tropicals

Plants delivered the way they deserve

Packaged with Care

Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

Verified reviews

Rated by real customers

Customers praised this plant's "luscious leaves" and healthy condition upon arrival. Shoppers consistently highlighted excellent packaging that protects during shipping. The plant arrives with good size, multiple leaves, and new growth. One customer noted leaves were dusty but easily cleaned. Perfect for growing into a large statement plant over time.

  • Lovely bold shiny leaves with a baby on the way. Happy purchase.
  • She loved it. Really good packaging. And such luscious leaves.
  • Lovely plant, healthy and excellently packed as always
  • 5 stars: 6 (100%)
  • 4 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
Z
Zhak
Gift for a friend.

She loved it. Really good packaging. And such luscious leaves.

Zhak review photo
K
Kelly S.
Fab plant

Arrived with my Hoya in great condition. Items are well securely wrapped. It’s now sitting on my windowsill alongside my others waiting patiently for bright uk light

Kelly S. review photo
K
K M.
Just Lovely!

GT sure do know how to pack a plant!

Lovely bold shiny leaves with a baby on the way. Came similar to the photo. Happy purchase.

K M. review photo
G
Gill P.
Good sized healthy plant

This was my first purchase from Grow Tropicals but I had watched many an unboxing video. I was impressed with the size of the plant. Lots of leaves and another one coming. If I am 100% honest I was a bit surprised at how dusty they were but I gave her a wipe over and she looks beautiful now. Looking forward to her growing into a large plant over the years, like I remember at my grandparents house when I was a girl.

C
Chris S.
Lovely plant, healthy and excellently

Lovely plant, healthy and excellently packed as always

J
John T.
Great shopping experience

Excellent goods & package in good condition

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Ficus elastica 'Abidjan'
£8.99 £10.99