Description
Brassaia, octopus tree, umbrella tree, or just plain "schefflera", is an erect shrub or small tree getting up to 40 ft (12 m) tall. The plant grows with multiple trunks, each topped
with a small crown of large showy leaves. The compound leaves form
an umbrella shaped rosette which gives the tree one of its common names.
Ten to fifteen stalks of bright red flowers appear in summer and are followed
by round dark berries. Schefflera is commonly grown as a house plant where it stays in a juvenile condition, rarely exceeding a couple feet (60 cm) in height, and never blooming.
Location Schefflera actinophylla is native to northern Australia and southeastern New Guinea. It is a common landscaping plant in frost free
areas like South Florida and Hawaii. Everywhere else, this tropical tree has become one of the most popular
of indoor house plants!
Culture
Light: Schefflera thrives in partial to deep shade. Indoors, grow in bright filtered or indirect light. Moisture: Schefflera prefers a rich moist soil but is adaptable. Hardiness: USDA Zone 10. Schefflera is a tropical plant and cannot withstand frosts. Propagation: Schefflera is easy to propagate from cuttings. They are also propagated by air layering. Seeds may be sown in spring.
Usage
In tropical climates, use octopus tree for screens, windbreaks, hedges, specimens, street plantings,
and patios. It is used extensively
in South Florida along freeways and turnpikes. Trim to one trunk for a
more tree-like specimen with additional height. Schefflera is a popular container plant for use indoors and out.
Features
The graceful, showy schefflera always makes a good impression. It's
versatile and is seldom bothered by pests. Schefflera is a mass market item and
is available almost everywhere for a reasonable price. There are more than 900 species in the genus Schefflera in the wild in tropical Asia and South and Central America, but only a handful are common in cultivation.
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