SCHEFFALERA Scheffalera arboricola

Characteristics

 House  Sun: Full sun to part shade  Zone: 10 to 12  Water: Medium  Height: 10.00 to 25.00 feet  Maintenance: Low  Spread: 4.00 to 8.00 feet  : Showy  Bloom Time: Rarely indoors  : Evergreen  Bloom Description: Red  Fruit: Showy

Culture

Winter hardy to USDA Zones 10-12 where it is best grown in bright part shade locations. Outdoors, it tolerates full sun, but generally appreciates protection from direct sun during the heat of the day. It also tolerates bright shade. should be grown in containers filled with a peaty well-drained soil mix. Water regularly but moderately during the growing season. Avoid overwatering. Best to deeply water and then allow soils to nearly dry before applying an additional deep watering. Reduce watering somewhat from fall to late winter. Plants may be taken outdoors to sheltered locations in summer. Indoor plants are best placed in bright light at east, west or southern windows in curtain filtered sun (3-4 hours per day). Avoid direct sun. Indoor temperatures should not dip below 60 degrees F. in winter. Clean as needed with a damp sponge to maintain best foliage appearance. To increase humidity, mist foliage with water and/or place containers on a tray of wet pebbles. Prune to control size.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Schefflera arboricola, commonly called umbrella plant or dwarf , is an evergreen or small tree that grows in tropical climates to 10-25' tall. It is widely grown in temperate climates as a much smaller ornamental foliage . Each leaf has 7-9 obovate-oblong to elliptic leaflets (to 4-6" long) arranged in a circle on leafstalks to 6" long. Tiny red flowers in compound panicles bloom in summer. Flowers are followed by round orange drupes (to 1/4") which mature to black. Indoor plants rarely flower.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Mealybugs, aphids and thrips may appear. Watch for spider mites in dry indoor conditions. Leaves will drop if soils become too moist or too dry. Remove any yellow leaves as they appear. Garden Uses

Low-maintenance indoor potted plant. Where winter hardy, it is commonly used as a specimen/accent, hedge or container plant.

Courtesy of Missouri Botanical Society Plant Finder