Ficus sur, a large deciduous tree, requires plentiful, adequate water for its survival. This is why the tree, which is considered a moisture-trapping plant, is best planted close to drainage lines or other bodies of water. This quality attracts other, smaller moisture-demanding plants to regenerate in its shade. Although the fruit is edible, it is watery, tasteless, and unappealing to those who try it. Throughout Africa, the tree is used as a firewood—particularly, various people spread across the continent use dry wood from the Ficus sur as a base block when starting a fire using friction. The inner bark can be used as a weaving fiber or made into a strong rope. Although the wood is not especially durable and attracts termites, it can still be used for making mortars, pestles, drums, stools, canoes, and even houses.

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If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

Leviticus 26:3-4