Costco's Famous Fiddle Leaf Fig Plants Are FINALLY Back In Stock
Calling all houseplant lovers: Run, don't walk to your nearest Costco this week because chances are high you'll come across a lush grove of gorgeous fiddle leaf fig plants for the taking.
The designer-approved, Instagram-famous houseplants are priced at $52.99, a fraction of what they sell for at nurseries. And true believers are spreading the word. The Instagram account @costcohotfinds alerted followers to Costco’s inventory of fiddle leaf plants in a post saying: "A truck must have just dropped off dozens of these gigantic fiddle leaf fig plants."
The statement-maker plants at Costco come in 6.5-gallon containers and stand 5 1/2-feet tall with glossy green leaves larger than your hand, according to the Instagram post.
Known to lend a tropical feel to any space with their leathery, violin-shaped leaves, fiddle leaf fig plants (their botanical name is Ficus lyrata) are a designer favorite and are among the things they recommend pouncing on should you spot them at Costco.
"Their enormous green leaves are so impressive and the color works in every room," Bethany Adams, a Louisville, Kentucky interior designer, says. (That's a fiddle leaf fig in a dining room she designed, above.) "If I can manage to get to Costco on a day when they've had a plant delivery, I will clean them out," she adds, cautioning that they do go fast. (And for good reason—the same plants can run you $150 at a nursery). She uses these beauties pretty much everywhere: "To make a formal space a little more casual and welcoming, I'll add a Fig tree in a woven basket. To fake a huge tree, I'll hide one behind a piece of furniture like a sofa, and prop it up on a sturdy side table. I also like to drag mine outside to the patio in summer so they can enjoy the fresh air and humidity—they are tropical plants after all!" (That's a fiddle leaf fig on a porch designed by Adams, below.)
Many designers love working with Fiddle Leaf Figs because they’re easy to maintain, eye-catching and match virtually any décor, says Isfira Jensen, CEO and principal interior designer at Nufacet Interiors, a New York City-based firm. "My favorite way of decorating with them is to use them in an outdoor space," Jensen says. "They thrive on plenty of sunlight so using them outdoors to add greenery or visual interest to a porch, patio or terrace is perfect."
Los Angeles-based interior designer Jaimee Longo of The Layered House, says she likes those with at least three branch arms so they grow into an abstract shape, branching out in different directions. "The quirkier-looking, the better," she says.
If you get to Costco late and only find the smaller options, remember that your fiddle leaf fig may be on the smaller size today, but with the right care, it will flourish in no time, says Interior Designer Ashley Macuga of Collected Interiors. When she purchased the fiddle leaf fig in the image above at Costco, she says, "he was a bit of a wee thing, but with some tender loving care turned into this handsome beauty and is still flourishing!"
When purchasing a planter, don’t be afraid to go big and give your fiddle leaf fig some room to grow, Macuga says. Look for planters that are at least 20 inches in diameter, which will be a more proportional scale to the tree overtime.
If you do make it in time to snag one, fiddle leaf figs are easy to care for, on the whole. "They love bright, indirect light and can’t stand over-watering," says plant and lawn care expert Bryan Clayton, founder and CEO of GreenPal, a site which connects homeowners with lawn care professionals. Clayton suggests waiting for the top 1 to 2 inches of soil to dry out before giving it another drink, then water it until the water begins to drain.
Also, fiddle leaf figs favor humidity. They're native to central and southern Africa, where they can grow up to 30 feet tall, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. If you don't have much humidity in your home, a humidifier or some light misting will help your fiddle leaf fig thrive, Clayton says. You can also put a tray of water and pebbles under the plant, so that when the water evaporates it creates a mini tropical zone for your houseplant.
Here are more tips for caring for your newbie Fiddle Leaf Fig plant. But don't take the time to read them now. Bookmark this page and return after you've made your Costco run!
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