A tall (to 50 m), evergreen forest tree of the tropical and sub - tropical rainforests of eastern Australia and also New Guinea. Given the space, it is a spreading tree often twice as wide as it is tall, with a wide buttressed trunk.
It prefers a deep, moist, fertile, alluvial soil in rainfalls between 1000 -1700 mm. It has been planted and grows very well in coastal sands in Western Australia almost right to the sea in rainfalls around 700 mm. Moreton Bay figs were planted extensively around Perth as park trees and also as street trees but have fallen into disfavour for the latter because their root system destroys paths, roads, drains, fences and buildings.
The fruit is very variable but in some individuals, can be outstanding in size and flavour and quite reminiscent of Ficus carica. The Australian Aborigines made a string from the bark fibres which they used to manufacture dilly bags and fishing nets. The timber is open grained, easily worked and dresses with a mild sheen reminiscent of cedar.