10 Types of Rubber Plants For Your Home

Rubber plants might elicit one image in your mind — the popular rubber tree — but there are actually many types of rubber tree. They come in many colors and sizes. Their beautiful waxy looking leaves look great in just about any type of home and they can grow pretty quickly if you care for them correctly (just water them when the top two inches of soil are dry).

If you're curious about the different types of rubber plants or ficus Elastica, keep reading for 10 great options worth growing at home.

Warning

Rubber plants are from the Ficus genus, which is mildly toxic to pets when ingested.

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01 of 10
Robusta (Ficus elastica 'Robusta')

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The Robusta is probably the most common type of rubber plant you’ll find in a nursery or online plant shop. They have deep green, waxy looking leaves and can grow pretty tall depending on if you can meet its environmental requirements. These look great in a corner by a window.
- Light: Bright, indirect
- Leaf Color: Green
- Mature Size: Up to 8 feet tall
02 of 10
Tricolor (Ficus elastica 'Tricolor')

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The Tricolor is the rubber plant for you if you love a colorful houseplant. The leaves of this one are a mix of cream, pink, and green. When a new leaf is growing, it’ll even appear red until it has fully matured.
- Light: Bright, indirect
- Leaf Color: Pink, cream, and pinkish/red
- Mature Size: Up to 6 ft.
03 of 10
Tineke (Ficus elastica 'Tineke')

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One of the newer varieties you can find is the Tineke. It’s a rarer version of the rubber plant and has variegated leaves in shades of green and cream or even pale yellow.
- Light: Bright, indirect sun—brighter is better if you want to keep the variegations strong!
- Leaf Color: Green, cream, and pale yellow
- Mature Size: Up to 13 ft.
04 of 10
Decora (Ficus elastica 'Decora')

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The Decora is different from other rubber plants as it grows very dark, thick leaves. These leaves can get a lot bigger than their counterparts.
- Light: Bright, indirect sun
- Leaf Color: Dark green
- Mature Size: Up to 6 ft.
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05 of 10
Doescheri (Ficus elastica 'Doescheri')

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If you love patterned leaves, then you should try to get your hands on a doescheri. The leaves of this plant are splotchy, with hints of gray, cream, and green. The stalks and midribs are pink, which gives it a unique look.
- Light: Bright, indirect
- Leaf Color: Pink, gray, cream, and green
- Mature Size: Up to 13 ft.
06 of 10
Yellow Gem (Ficus elastica 'Yellow Gem')

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Most rubber plants have thick, darker leaves. Even the variegated versions tend to be darker in the middle. However, if you’re looking for a brighter plant, the yellow gem is a great option. The leaves are a golden-green hue and really pop in a room.
- Light: Bright, indirect
- Leaf Color: Golden-green, yellow
- Mature Size: Up to 6 ft.
07 of 10
Burgundy (Ficus elastica 'Burgundy')

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The burgundy variety of the rubber plant is gorgeous if you’re interested in deep colored foliage. The leaves are a shade of green so dark that they often appear to have a burgundy tint. This is one of those plants that you want to look at the undersides of the leaves as they are just as beautiful as the tops. It’s also commonly referred to as the black prince.
- Light: Bright, indirect sun — keep it on the brighter side to maintain foliage color.
- Leaf Color: Very dark green, hints of burgundy
- Mature Size: Up to 6 ft.
08 of 10
Abidjan (Ficus elastica 'Abdijan')

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Similar to the burgundy variety, the abidjan also has very dark leaves with hints of deep red. The leaves appear leathery and a lot thicker than the variegated rubber trees.
- Light: Bright, indirect sun
- Leaf Color: Deep red, burgundy, dark green
- Mature Size: Up to 6 ft.
Continue to 9 of 10 below.
09 of 10
Melany (Ficus elastica 'Melany')

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This is a smaller version of the rubber plant. It grows a lot denser and the leaves are a lot smaller than some of the other varieties. The leaves have a touch of bronze to them and they’re usually trained to grow like a tree so they will have multiple stems growing leaves as opposed to just one trunk.
- Light: Bright, indirect sun
- Leaf Color: Bronze, green
- Mature Size: Up to 6 ft., unless you have a petite version
10 of 10
Red Ruby (Ficus elastica 'Red Ruby')

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Another one for the color lovers, the red ruby is definitely the most vibrant version of the rubber plant. The leaves have strokes of purple, red, and white and the stems and ribs are a deep shade of reddish pink. New leaves will be redder in color as well. Remember to look at the underside of these leaves as they are pretty captivating as well.
- Light: Bright, indirect sun
- Leaf Color: Red, purple, white, reddish-pink
- Mature Size: Up to 6 ft.
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