Chinese Banyan

The species occurs mainly at low elevations, and its natural habitats include tropical rainforests, river edges, coasts, swamps, and mangroves.

Ficus microcarpa was widely distributed as an ornamental plant and is one of the most common street trees in warm climates. In urbanized areas, trees can grow in cracks, walls, buildings and other masonry elements. It seems more that the species do show good tolerance to soil moisture in some urban pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, the lead and cadmium, as well as salt.

Ficus microcarpa is cultivated as an ornamental tree for planting in gardens, parks, and in containers as an indoor plant and bonsai specimen. In Southeast Asia, it is cultivated as a shade tree because of its dense foliage. Its ability to produce discards also makes it easy to drive in hedge or bush.

In some regions outside its native range, Ficus microcarpa has become an invasive species. It can outcompete native vegetation and disrupt local ecosystems. Care should be taken when planting it in areas where it is not native.