PURPOSE: To enable production of a tissue culture from rhizomatic cells of Ficus benjamina L. and petiolar cells of Ficus retusa L. by bedding protoplasts of somatic cells of an arboreous ornamental foliage plant in a culture solution containing a plant growth hormone and culturing the protoplasts.

CONSTITUTION: Protoplasts of an arboreous ornamental foliage plant, such as Ficus benjamina L. or Ficus retusa L., belonging to the genus Ficus of the family Moraceae are bedded in a culture solution prepared by adding a plant growth hormone consisting of auxin-based dichlorophenoxyacetic acid or 1- naphthaleneacetic acid alone in ≤1ppm concentration and cytokinin-based zeatin alone in ≤1ppm concentration added to a culture medium containing inorganic salts and vitamins as a base and cultured at about 20°C atmospheric temperature in the dark to primarily divide cells for a culture period of 30 days without inactivating the protoplasts. Thereby, a tissue culture, such as colony or callus, is obtained. As a result, a cloned plant, such as Ficus retusa L. or Ficus benjamina L., can be regenerated. The protoplasts of the ornamental foliage plant can be cultured without utilizing nurse culture.