All varieties discussed—Tineke, Burgundy, Ruby, and others—are cultivated varieties (cultivars) of the same botanical species, Ficus elastica. This species, belonging to the Moraceae (fig) family, is a tropical broadleaf evergreen tree native to parts of India and Indonesia. As houseplants, they are prized for their striking foliage, which is typically large, thick, and leathery (coriaceous). These plants are hemiepiphytes in their natural habitat, often beginning life on other trees before sending aerial roots down to the soil. This robust growth habit translates to a generally resilient and vigorous plant when grown indoors under suitable conditions.
From a botanical perspective, the ‘Tineke’ is a variegated cultivar characterized by its striking foliar patterns. This is a result of a genetic mutation that causes a partial loss of chlorophyll in specific sectors of the leaf tissue. Its leaves display a patchwork of dark green, creamy white, and sometimes pale pink, especially on new growth. The green sections contain functional chloroplasts for photosynthesis, while the white and cream sectors are areas where chlorophyll is absent, revealing other pigments in the leaf like carotenoids. The plant must balance its photosynthetic output with the energy cost of producing such large, ornate leaves, making it slightly more sensitive to light conditions than its fully green counterparts.
The ‘Burgundy’ cultivar is defined by its profound anthocyanin pigmentation. Anthocyanins are water-soluble pigments that can appear red, purple, or blue depending on the pH. In this variety, high concentrations of anthocyanins mask the usual green chlorophyll, giving the new leaves and sheaths a deep, almost wine-red hue. As the large, oval leaves mature, they often darken to a very deep green but typically retain a reddish undertone on the underside. This pigment can act as a natural sunscreen, protecting the delicate young leaves from potential photodamage as they unfurl and develop their photosynthetic machinery.
The ‘Ruby’ is essentially a highly variegated selection of the ‘Burgundy’. It exhibits a dramatic combination of the traits seen in ‘Tineke’ and ‘Burgundy’. Its foliage showcases a mosaic of green, creamy white, and vibrant pink or ruby-red patches. The pink and red hues are, like in the ‘Burgundy’, due to anthocyanins. However, their expression is more pronounced and confined to specific variegated sections of the leaf alongside the chlorophyll-deficient areas. This makes its new growth particularly spectacular. The plant’s growth rate and overall structure are identical to the species, but the high degree of variegation means it requires bright, indirect light to sustain its colorful but less efficient foliage.
Beyond these, several other cultivars exist. Ficus elastica ‘Decora’ features very broad, glossy green leaves with a pronounced central rib, often with a reddish sheath on new growth. Ficus elastica ‘Abidjan’ is similar to ‘Burgundy’ but may display even darker, near-black new foliage. The ‘Doescheri’ cultivar presents a complex variegation of green, gray-green, and creamy yellow, sometimes with reddish midribs. From a physiological standpoint, each cultivar’s unique appearance is a trade-off between aesthetic appeal, photosynthetic efficiency, and specific environmental requirements to maintain its distinctive coloration.
