Kauaʻi record · kba_plant_ficus_religiosa
Sacred fig
Ficus religiosa
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About Sacred fig
Sacred fig (Ficus religiosa) is an introduced tree treated as naturalized on Kauaʻi by Bishop Museum’s 2025 checklist and the 2026 Smithsonian checklist. Current extent is unassessed. Native to the northern Indian subcontinent and parts of South and Southeast Asia; widely planted in the tropics. Bird-dispersed figs allow establishment in disturbed places where its pollinating wasp is present.
Kauaʻi evidence
Taxonomic identity, tree form, diagnostic morphology and island occurrence use the linked reviewed sources. Historical planting, cultivation, naturalization and invasive status are separate. Generated imagery is not occurrence evidence.
Names and classification
- Scientific name
- Ficus religiosa
- Common names
- bo tree · peepul tree · Sacred fig · bodhi tree
- Other names
- Ficus religiosa · sacred fig · bo tree · peepul tree · bodhi tree · Urostigma religiosum
- Record type
- Species
Kauaʻi occurrence and status
- Kauaʻi occurrence
- Recorded on Kauaʻi
- Origin
- Introduced
- Conservation status
- Not yet assessed
- Evidence date
- 2026-10-06
- Evidence limits
- Current extent is unassessed; public locality is island level only.
Habitat and ecology
- Habitats
- Not yet assessed
- Food and resource needs
- Not yet assessed
- Reproduction
- Not yet assessed
- Shelter
- Not yet assessed
- Growth form
- confirmed tree scope
Threats and conservation
- Monitoring
- Not yet assessed
- Data gaps
- Current population extent and trajectory · Additional species-specific ecological and conservation sources
Process and seasonal context
- Seasonal timing
- Not yet assessed
- Seasonal description
- Sacred fig (Ficus religiosa) is an introduced tree treated as naturalized on Kauaʻi by Bishop Museum’s 2025 checklist and the 2026 Smithsonian checklist. Current extent is unassessed. Native to the northern Indian subcontinent and parts of South and Southeast Asia; widely planted in the tropics. Bird-dispersed figs allow establishment in disturbed places where its pollinating wasp is present.
Sources and further reading
- https://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/publications/pdf/tr75.pdf
- https://editedimages.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/Imadaetal.2025Hawaiianvascularplants.xlsx
- https://doi.org/10.5479/si.32124043
- https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:853563-1
- https://efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200006369
- https://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200006369