Plant Profile: Polyscias guilfoylei

Taxonomy: Polyscias guilfoylei

Names

Coffee Tree, Geranium-Leaf Aralia, Wild Coffee

  • Photo of Polyscias guilfoylei (Polyscias guilfoyleis)

Phonetic Spelling:pol-ISS-skee-as gil-FOYL-ee

Genus:Polyscias

Species:guilfoylei

Family:Araliaceae

Geranium Aralia, a tropical species hailing from Southeast Asia, is a popular choice for indoor gardening. This plant grows slowly and can be pruned to maintain a desired size, typically reaching heights of 6 to 8 feet if left untrimmed. It is sensitive to temperature, shedding its leaves if exposed to conditions below 50°F. The foliage is striking, often featuring variegated patterns with white or yellow edges, although all-green varieties also exist. As a houseplant, it seldom produces flowers.

For optimal growth, cultivate Geranium Aralia in moist, well-drained loamy soil that is slightly acidic, and position it in bright, indirect light. It can handle some morning sunlight but should be allowed to dry out partially between waterings; when you do water, ensure it is thorough. Additionally, this plant can serve as an excellent bonsai specimen.

Polyscias guilfoylei Feature Summary

Polyscias guilfoylei Image Gallery

Tags

#evergreen
#houseplant
#slow growing
#variegated leaves
#problem for cats
#problem for dogs
#problem for horses
#tropical feel
#container plants

Similar Plants

Polyscias guilfoylei Feature Summary

Flowers
Rarely blooms as a houseplant
Leaves
Compound leaf with 7-9 leaflets. Green to variegated with white or yellow margins.
Green
White
Gold/Yellow
Variegated
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Elliptical
Ovate
Stem
Stems can become woody with age
Poisonous to Humans
Contact dermatitis, vomiting, anorexia, depression
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Landscape
Container
Patio
Houseplants
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses

Polyscias guilfoylei Attributes

Polyscias guilfoylei: Country Or Region Of Origin

Asia

Polyscias guilfoylei: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Polyscias guilfoylei Flowers

Polyscias guilfoylei: Flower Description

Rarely blooms as a houseplant

Polyscias guilfoylei: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Polyscias guilfoylei Leaves

Polyscias guilfoylei: Leaf Description

Compound leaf with 7-9 leaflets. Green to variegated with white or yellow margins.

Polyscias guilfoylei: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Polyscias guilfoylei: Leaf Color

spa
Gold/Yellow
spa
Green
spa
Variegated
spa
White

Polyscias guilfoylei: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Polyscias guilfoylei: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Polyscias guilfoylei: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Polyscias guilfoylei: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Polyscias guilfoylei: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Polyscias guilfoylei: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Polyscias guilfoylei Stem

Polyscias guilfoylei: Stem Description

Stems can become woody with age

Polyscias guilfoylei: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Polyscias guilfoylei Poisonous to Humans

Polyscias guilfoylei: Poison Symptoms

Contact dermatitis, vomiting, anorexia, depression

Polyscias guilfoylei: Poison Toxic Principle

Saponin

Polyscias guilfoylei: Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Polyscias guilfoylei: Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Polyscias guilfoylei Whole Plant Traits

Polyscias guilfoylei: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Polyscias guilfoylei: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Polyscias guilfoylei: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Polyscias guilfoylei: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Polyscias guilfoylei: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Polyscias guilfoylei Cultural Conditions

Polyscias guilfoylei: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Polyscias guilfoylei: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Polyscias guilfoylei: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Polyscias guilfoylei: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
11a
thermostat
11b
thermostat
12a
thermostat
12b

Polyscias guilfoylei: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Polyscias guilfoylei Landscape

Polyscias guilfoylei: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Polyscias guilfoylei: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy