Ficus Racemosa, Gular - 0.5 kg Seeds

The Cluster Fig or Gular (Ficus racemosa) is a moderate-to-large deciduous fig instantly recognised by the dense clusters of reddish figs borne directly on its trunk and main branches (cauliflory). A fast-growing, spreading tree of riverbanks and moist ground, it is sacred in Indian tradition and an important wildlife and medicinal species.

It grows throughout India along streams, in moist forests and on cultivated bunds, tolerating periodic waterlogging and a range of soils. The figs are eaten and used in folk remedies, the bark and latex feature in Ayurveda, and the abundant fruit is a magnet for birds, bats, monkeys and butterflies, while the tree gives quick shade and bank stabilisation.

• Family: Moraceae
• Native region: Indian subcontinent & tropical Asia
• Mature height: 15–25 m
• Growth rate: fast

Sow the very small seeds fresh from ripe figs; clean off the pulp and surface-sow on a moist, sterile sand-soil mix without covering, since light promotes germination. Keep the medium constantly damp and warm (25–32 °C) under light shade, misting gently; seedlings emerge erratically over about 14–21 days. Prick out into pots once handleable and grow on in part shade before planting out, ideally in the rains.