Photo: Vis M / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Rubber Tree (Hevea brasiliensis): Source of natural latex — the foundation of the global rubber industry and a valuable timber after tapping.
🔍 Quick Facts
| Common name | Rubber Tree |
| Other names | Rubber (Malayalam, Hindi); Para rubber tree |
| Scientific name | Hevea brasiliensis |
| Plant family | Euphorbiaceae |
| Size | 20–30 m tree |
| Native region | Amazon Basin |
| Climate | Tropical/Humid |
| Ease of growing | Moderate |
| Parts used | Latex, Wood |
About Rubber Tree
Para rubber is native to the Amazon and was introduced to India in the late 1800s. Kerala now grows most of India's natural rubber. Workers make a thin diagonal cut in the bark early each morning and collect the latex that drips into a cup. Note that the popular houseplant called "rubber plant" is a different species, Ficus elastica.
Botanically known as Hevea brasiliensis, it belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. It is native to Amazon Basin and grows best in a tropical/humid climate. The parts most often used are the latex and wood.
Timber & Economic Uses
Rubber Tree is best known for:
- Natural rubber (latex)
- Timber (after tapping)
- Wood products
- Rubber goods
- Industrial
What the Wood Is Used For
- Latex is processed into sheet rubber for tyres, gloves and footwear.
- After 25–30 years, trees are felled for rubberwood furniture.
How to Grow Rubber Tree
| ☀️ Sunlight | Full sun. |
| 💧 Watering | High; needs heavy, well-distributed rainfall. |
| 🪴 Soil | Deep, well-drained laterite soil. |
| 🌱 Propagation | Budded plants of high-yielding clones (such as RRII 105). |
| 📅 When to plant (India) | Plant in the monsoon; tapping begins at about 7 years. |
| 🏡 In pots / at home | Not suitable for pots. For an indoor plant, grow Ficus elastica instead. |
Precautions & Safety
- Natural latex is a common allergen.
- Do not confuse with the houseplant Ficus elastica.
Frequently Asked Questions
Written by the WhyOnPlanet editorial team · Last updated October 2026