Schefflera
Heptapleurum arboricola · the Umbrella Plant
It grows in the warm subtropical forests of Taiwan and Hainan, often as an epiphyte clinging to tree trunks. Its glossy leaflets fan out from a central stalk like the spokes of an umbrella, which is where the name comes from.
Family
Araliaceae
Origin
Taiwan and Hainan
In the wild
Grows on tree trunks
Indoors
0.9–1.8 m
Growth
Moderate
With pets
Toxic
Where it's from
Taiwan and Hainan
Forest epiphyte
Reaches eight or nine metres in the wild, free-standing or clinging to tree trunks.
Outdoors: zones 10–12
Frost-free only. A houseplant or summer patio plant everywhere colder.
An invasive cousin
Its tree relative, the octopus tree, is an invasive weed in Florida and Hawaii.
It is not a Schefflera anymore
In 2020 botanists moved the Asian species out of Schefflera into the genus Heptapleurum, so your umbrella plant is now Heptapleurum arboricola. The trade still says schefflera. Worse, two different plants share the umbrella name: the tidy dwarf on your shelf, and the octopus tree, a forty-foot relative that has escaped cultivation.
Renamed in 2020
Lowry and Plunkett reinstated the genus Heptapleurum for the Asian species.
Same name, two fates
The dwarf stays tidy indoors; the octopus tree bulldozes native forest outdoors.
A beginner bonsai
As a wild epiphyte it throws aerial roots, which bonsai growers train into banyan shapes.
How to keep it
LightMedium to bright indirect
Brighter light keeps it full and the variegation vivid. Low light makes it leggy and sparse.
WaterLet the top dry
Water thoroughly, then let the top of the soil dry. It hates wet feet, but a full dry-out also drops leaves.
Humidity40–60%Tolerates room humidity, but dry air invites spider mites and browning edges.
Temperature16–24°CKeep it above 13°C and away from drafts, vents and radiators.
SoilRich, well-draining mixHumus-y and peaty, but still free-draining.
FeedingSpring to summerA balanced feed through the growing season; pause in winter.
DifficultyEasyA long-lived, tolerant interior plant that puts up with neglect.
With petsToxicInsoluble calcium oxalate crystals. Mouth burning, drooling and vomiting if chewed.
PropagationStem cuttingsTip cuttings root readily; air-layer leggy woody stems.
RepottingEvery 2–3 yearsWhen root-bound. Size up gradually and refresh the soil.
What the data says
What it costs
Inexpensive and widely stocked. A mass-produced foliage staple, not a collector chase.
$10–40
Variegated cultivars like Gold Capella and trained bonsai specimens carry a modest premium. No Monstera-style bubble.
The clean-air myth
Drag the slider. See how many schefflera it takes to clean one room's air.
1 Schefflera cleans 0.1% of one room's air
You would need many hundreds to make a measurable dent. The famous 1989 NASA result came from a sealed lab box; a real room's airflow beats any plant. Keep it for the sculptural shape.
IUCN · Not assessed
In the wild
A near-inversion of the usual story: the worry here is not extinction but escape.
The dwarf is abundant in cultivation and not of conservation concern. But its tree cousin, the octopus tree, thrives too well outside its range and is now ranked an invasive weed in Florida and Hawaii, outcompeting native flora.
When it sulks
Leaf dropThe classic complaint: overwatering, a full dry-out, cold drafts or a sudden move.
Leggy, sparse, small leavesToo little light. Move it brighter and prune to force branching.
Faded variegationNot enough light; the pattern goes back to green.
Yellowing leaves, mushy stemOverwatering and root rot from soggy soil.
PestsSpider mites in dry air, plus mealybugs and scale. Wipe the leaves, treat early.
Varieties & company
The varieties
Gold CapellaTrinetteJanineVariegataDazzle
Pairs with · keep apart from
DracaenaRubber PlantPhilodendronCactiSucculentsSnake Plant
A new plant, every week.
The Data Drop from Sheets Works. New field guides like this one, in your inbox.
