Schefflera actinophylla: Country Or Region Of Origin
S. New Guinea to N. Australia, Java
Plant Profile: Schefflera actinophylla
Taxonomy: Schefflera actinophyllaNames
Australian Ivy Palm, Octopus Tree, Schefflera, Starleaf, Umbrella Tree
Phonetic Spelling:shef-LER-uh ak-ten-oh-FIL-uh
Genus:Schefflera
Species:actinophylla
Family:Araliaceae
The umbrella tree can reach heights of up to 50 feet in its natural environments of Australia and New Guinea. In North Carolina, it thrives as a houseplant, preferring bright, sunny spots with high humidity. To manage its size, regular pruning is recommended, and it benefits from some shade during the intense afternoon sun. Watering should be consistent, with a reduction in frequency during the winter months. While it can be cultivated outdoors in containers in sheltered areas, it is essential to bring the plants indoors during the colder season.
In Florida, this species is classified as an exotic pest plant.
Regarding pests and diseases, the umbrella tree generally faces few serious issues. However, it can occasionally be affected by aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, thrips, and scale insects. Additionally, bacterial leaf spot and soft rot may develop if the soil remains excessively wet.
Quick Identification:
Schefflera actinophylla Feature Summary
Schefflera actinophylla Image Gallery
Tags
#evergreen
#black
#full sun tolerant
#houseplant
#interiorscape
#large leaves
#low maintenance
#showy fruits
#potted plant
#black fruits
#fantz
#humidity tolerant
#patio planting
#partial shade tolerant
#problem for cats
#problem for dogs
#problem for horses
#container plants
Similar Plants
Schefflera actinophylla is often confused with:
Schefflera actinophylla Feature Summary
Attributes
S. New Guinea to N. Australia, Java
Perennial
Fruit
The fruit is reddish-purple half-inch drupes.
Drupe
Red/Burgundy
Purple/Lavender
< 1 inch
< 1 inch
Flowers
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.
Red/Burgundy
Summer
< 1 inch
Leaves
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.
Broadleaf Evergreen
Green
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Oblong
Entire
Dentate
Undulate
> 6 inches
Glossy
3-6 inches
Stem
Stems are shiny green and become brown and woody. Branches are few, short, often apically.
Brown/Copper
Green
Whole Plant Traits
Houseplant
Broadleaf Evergreen
Erect
Spreading
Medium
Low
Coarse
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Wet
10a
10b
11a
11b
12a
12b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Container
Patio
Houseplants
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Schefflera actinophylla Image Gallery
Schefflera actinophylla Attributes
Schefflera actinophylla: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Schefflera actinophylla Fruit
Schefflera actinophylla: Fruit Description
The fruit is reddish-purple half-inch drupes.
Schefflera actinophylla: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Schefflera actinophylla: Fruit Color
Purple/Lavender
Red/Burgundy
Schefflera actinophylla: Fruit Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Schefflera actinophylla: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Schefflera actinophylla: Fruit Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Schefflera actinophylla Flowers
Schefflera actinophylla: 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.
Schefflera actinophylla: Flower Color
Red/Burgundy
Schefflera actinophylla: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Schefflera actinophylla: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Schefflera actinophylla: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Schefflera actinophylla Leaves
Schefflera actinophylla: 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.
Schefflera actinophylla: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Schefflera actinophylla: Leaf Color
Green
Schefflera actinophylla: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Schefflera actinophylla: 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
Schefflera actinophylla: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Schefflera actinophylla: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Schefflera actinophylla: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Schefflera actinophylla: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Schefflera actinophylla: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Schefflera actinophylla Stem
Schefflera actinophylla: Stem Description
Stems are shiny green and become brown and woody. Branches are few, short, often apically.
Schefflera actinophylla: Stem Color
Brown/Copper
Green
Schefflera actinophylla: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Schefflera actinophylla Whole Plant Traits
Schefflera actinophylla: 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
Schefflera actinophylla: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Schefflera actinophylla: 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
Schefflera actinophylla: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Schefflera actinophylla: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Schefflera actinophylla: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Schefflera actinophylla Cultural Conditions
Schefflera actinophylla: 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)
Schefflera actinophylla: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Schefflera actinophylla: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Schefflera actinophylla: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
10a
10b
11a
11b
12a
12b
Schefflera actinophylla: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Schefflera actinophylla Landscape
Schefflera actinophylla: 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
Schefflera actinophylla: 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
