Why you might be surprised that your fiddle leaf fern can flourish outside

One of the most popular houseplants today is the fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata). Yet this arboreal gem is also a candidate for outdoor growing.

You would not know this from looking at the climate zones considered appropriate for this species. Yet if grown in a partial sun exposure, where it receives a few hours of the day’s sun, the fiddle leaf fig is a worthy candidate for outdoor growing in much of the greater Los Angeles area, at least in Orange County and points south, but perhaps in the San Fernando Valley and Inland Empire as well. Be aware that there is a recently introduced cream and green variegated fiddle leaf fig, as well as Bambino, a dwarf fiddle leaf that grows 7 feet tall as opposed to the 20 feet a regular fiddle leaf reaches at maturity.

Plants not recommended for growin