Any Ficus (or indoor capable) that resembles a Japanese Red Maple?

Z06Bonsai

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I know ficuses come in a wide range of shapes and colors so Im curious if there are any ficuses out there that represent my favorite tree, the Japanese red maple
 

rockm

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Resemble how? Foliage, trunk, form?

The short answer to your question is no-there are no ficus with leaves that resemble maples...ficus used for bonsai can be shaped into "maple" types of design forms, though.
 

Z06Bonsai

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more or less the color, gray trunk, red leaves.

It has to be the ultimate tree, in my opinion at least
 

rockm

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There is a group of trees that are called "musk maples," but you're not going to like a lot about them.

Do a Google search on "premna," musk maple." You will see that there are a confusing number of species noted. These are NOT maples, but Tthe temperate Chinese version--called premna microphylla--has a leaf shape similar to maples.. The other premna species are tropical. None are widely available as bonsai material.

Tropical premna require similar indoor care as ficus. Temperate climate species require a dormant period. None will provide red leaves. In fact, I don't know of any bonsai worthy tropical "indoor" species that has red leaves.

Musk maple have "musk" in their name for a reason. They tend to smell --BAD. I have a temperate premna. It is pretty darn smelly. Pruning makes it worse.
 
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