Umbrella Tree Heptapleurum actinophyllum
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Umbrella Tree:
Previously known as:
- Brassaia actinophylla
- Brassaia singaporensis
- Schefflera actinophylla
- Phonetic Spelling
- Hep-ta-PLUR-um ak-ten-oh-FIL-um
- Description
-
Umbrella tree grows to 50 feet in its native habitat of Australia and New Guinea. In NC it grows as a houseplant in bright sunny, high humidity locations. It can be pruned to control the size. It does best with protection from hot afternoon sun. Water regularly and then cut back in the winter. Plants can be grown in protected locations outdoors in containers but must be brought in over the winter.
It is reported as an exotic pest plant in Florida.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems but suffers occasionally from aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, thrips, and scale. Bacterial leaf spot and soft rot occur when soils are too wet.
Quick ID
- Shrub/small tree with palmately compound leaves
- Stalked leaflets are broad, sparsely dentately toothed above middle
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Variegata'
Variegated leaves
- 'Variegata'
- 'Variegata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Variegata'
Variegated leaves
- 'Variegata'
- 'Variegata'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Heptapleurum
- Species:
- actinophyllum
- Family:
- Araliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- S. New Guinea to N. Australia, Java
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is reddish-purple half-inch drupes.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 1-inch red flowers appear on compact umbrels that are held above the foliage and are arranged like the ribs of an inverted umbrella, or like the tentacles of an octopus. Rarely blooms as a houseplant but may if grown outdoors in the summer sun.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Entire
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are palmately compound with 7-16 leaflets in terminal rosettes to 11.5 by 4 inches. They are oblong, entire below middle to sparsely, minutely dentately toothed above the middle. They are bright green and glossy; petiolules elongate, conspicuous. Indoor plants the leaves will be smaller at 4-6 inches long.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems are shiny green and become brown and woody. Branches are few, short, often apically.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
