A farewell to house-shrubs and house-trees

The only thing about my upcoming move that gives me pause is saying goodbye to my 100+ houseplants. Among the few you see in this picture is my “tree.”

I found it in a little shop called “Eden in the Alley” in downtown Seattle, WA. I happened upon this shop on lunch break one day when I used to work at the SAS building. When I found this tree (then about 10 inches tall) sitting on a shelf, I simply could not leave it behind (yeah, heard that one before). It soon became the anchor for a desk full of plants in my cubicle.

Now taller than me, I must say goodbye to her and all the other plants which I have come to know as dear friends. However, when I thought about it the other day, I realized that I haven’t got a clue as to what this plant is. Googling “curly leaves looks like ficus” doesn’t get me very far.

Any guesses?

The original tag in its pot had said “weeping fig,” but I know better. It’s neither a weeping fig nor any type of ficus. Ficus are temperamental little buggers who cringe at the slightest movement. The most beautiful ficus I’ve ever seen were growing naturally in the sand in Placencia, Belize.

This tree, a lover of the brightest, hottest sunshine, has survived all manner of adventures with hardly a yellowed leaf!