Umbrella Tree Heptapleurum actinophyllum

Schefflera is an evergreen shrub or multi-stemmed medium-sized tree that can grow up to 40 feet tall, and it is found in the wet tropical areas of Northern Australia and in Southern New Guinea. As a young tree, it is also an epiphyte and will cling to other trees. but it becomes terrestrial as it matures. The common name, Schefflera, honors a 19th century Polish botanist, J.C. Scheffler. This tree is a member of the ivy family (Araliaceae). The specific epithet, actinophylla, is from the Greek words, actino, meaning rayed and phylla, meaning leaf. This references the tree's leaf arrangement.

As a houseplant , it prefers a bright sunny location with high humidity and temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The preferred temperature range is from 65 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.  It thrives in rich, moist, and well-drained soil. Water the plant regularly with rainwater or filtered water. It can be pruned to control its size and may be cut back in the winter. It does best when protected from the hot afternoon sun. In North Carolina, these plants can also be grown in protected locations outdoors in containers, but they must be brought in over the winter. They are winter hardy in zones 10 to 12. This plant can be propagated by seeds, layering, or cuttings. 

Schefflera grows upright and has thin, green trunk initially, and later it becomes woody and grayish-brown. Indoor plant size ranges from 4 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide. The leaves are green, leathery, oblong to elliptic, compound palmate with 5 to 18 stalked leaflets arranged in a whorl. The ornamental flowers are small, red to pinkish-red, fragrant with 11 petals, and arranged in stiff, terminal racemes up to 2 to 4 feet in length. The fruits are reddish-purple to black drupes, containing 8 seeds. 

For a tropical feel with glossy, dense, green foliage, consider the schefflera for your indoor space.

Quick ID Hints:

• Shrub/small tree with palmately compound leaves
• Stalked leaflets are broad, leaf margins are entire and undulate

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. Underwatered plants will drop their leaves. Avoid cold drafts and heating vents to prevent plant stress.

All parts of this plant are toxic if ingested and should be kept out of the reach of pets and children. Skin irritation can result from contact with the plant's sap.

This plant is reported as an exotic pest plant in Florida.