Balfour Aralia Polyscias balfouriana
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Aralia balfouriana
- Panax balfourii
- Phonetic Spelling
- pol-ISS-see-as bal-for-ee-AH-nuh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Aralia Balfour is a shrub or small tree that is cultivated as an ornamental in the landscape or as an indoor houseplant. It is native to the moist tropical habitats and lowlands of New Guinea and Queensland and has been introduced to the tropical areas of Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. It has reportedly been listed as invasive in Cuba.
This plant grows from 2 to 6 feet tall. The leaves are broadly elliptic to reniform, papery to slightly leathery, and the margins are coarsely crenulate or shallowly serrate. The blooms are erect and appear as a panicle of umbels. This plant rarely produces flowers or fruits in cultivation.
Aralia Balfour prefers full sunlight but is tolerant of partial shade. It grows best when kept slightly damp with good humidity as in a tropical climate and light to medium, acidic to neutral soil.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Shoot blight and fusarium wilt may occur. Susceptible to root rot.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Lemon Lime'
glossy, rounded, green to lime-green foliage
- 'Lemon Lime'
- 'Lemon Lime'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Lemon Lime'
glossy, rounded, green to lime-green foliage
- 'Lemon Lime'
- 'Lemon Lime'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Polyscias
- Species:
- balfouriana
- Family:
- Araliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- New Guinea to Queensland
- Distribution:
- Cambodia, Dominican Republic, Haiti, New Caledonia, Puerto Rico
- Play Value:
- Easy to Grow
- Shade
- Wind Break
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- It rarely fruits in cultivation.
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Flowers:
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Umbel
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- The blooms appear as panicles of umbels. It rarely flowers in cultivation.
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Papery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Reniform
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenulate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Rounded trifoliate (3 leaflets) leaves with coarsely crenulate or shallowly serrate margins. Leaflets are elliptical to reniform and occasionally ovate to obovate.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Twisting green stems speckled with gray spots
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Houseplants
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Humidity
