Multi-head or multi-trunk artificial ficus trees resemble manicured lawn ornaments with their shapely trunks and geometric heads. Multi-head shrubs often feature leaves carved into umbrella shapes, balled domes or sprouting fireworks that seem to hover above their root system. The heads are often built at different heights for visual interest. Multi-trunk variations contain three or more svelte trunks with the bulk of the foliage found between the middle and top portions of the trunks.
Shaped ficus trees often look like small evergreen trees fashioned in a triangle or popsicle shape. Leaves on such trees range from tropical-style palm leaves to shorter, pointier leaves with lobes. Trunk styles include one solid trunk with several branches or a short, stubby trunk with most of the foliage growing in a straight, cylindrical form from bottom to top. Some owners opt for shorter trunks, as this style tree lends itself to a great quantity of thick foliage.
Ficus trees, by definition, are ordinarily tropical in nature so it makes sense that artificial ficus trees naturally tend toward this style. Such trees typically come with over 1,000 leaves and might feature multiple trunks. Trunk sizes might vary as well, as some styles have one main trunk with vines or smaller trunks twisting around the base and up through the leaves.
Artificial Japanese ficus trees often come with even more leaves than tropical variations. Some manufacturers design the trees with over 3,000 leaves. Such styles might require a multiple trunk choice in order to make the high quantity of leaves look natural and maintain balance. These trees are also rather tall and may exceed six or even seven feet.
Bonsai ficus trees are often popular with the feng shui crowd. According to bonsaigarden.net, bonsai plants "adhere to the philosophies of feng shui," which promote stress relief and relaxation. The artificial version of these plants look almost identical to their real counterparts, with dwarfed trunks and bristly, close-cropped foliage or miniaturized variations of tall, sprawling Japanese ficus trees. Unlike other ficus plants, which typically come in round, generic soil pots, some artificial bonsai ficus plants are crafted to fit inside Oriental pots styled like rice bowls or ornamental urn-like containers.