Schefflera arboricola

Design and InstallationGarden Caregarden TriviaIndoor plantsPlant Health CareUncategorized
Written By Peter Morris

Also known as Heptapleurum arboricola ! 

Description

A common houseplant in the Araliaceae family. It’s common name is dwarf umbrella tree - as it resembles a smaller version of the larger umbrella tree, Heptapleurum actinophyllum.

Research suggests it removes benzene (a carcinogenic substance) from the air. 

Environment

Native to Hainan Province, China and Taiwan. Commonly grown as a houseplant, popular for its tolerance of neglect and poor growing conditions. It is also grown as a garden plant in milder climates with no frosts. 

all leaflets are connected in once central point

Leaves and Flowers

In the tropics it can reach 10 to 25 feet tall – usually 3 to 6 feet tall, smaller ornamental when grown as a houseplant.

Leaves are evergreen, glossy, compound, palmate and arranged in a circle on the leafstalks. Each is made up of 7 to 9 leaflets connected at the center. 

it rarely flowers indoors !

Small red flowers appear in compound panicles with small round orange drupes become black when mature. 

seed capsules - drupes

Plant Problems

Red spider mites, mealybugs and scale can be a serious problem. If the soil is too wet or too dry the leaves will drop off. It has no serious disease problems. 

Care

The plant prefers bright indirect light, but can adapt to a wide variety of light levels. As a tropical plant, it prefers moisture and humidity, but soil should be well-drained and allowed to dry out between waterings.

Allowing the plant to sit in water can cause root rot. Under the right conditions, this plant will produce aerial roots that, when they reach the ground, will convert to fully functional roots. They give the plant an unusual and interesting appearance.  

Ethnobotany

Used in traditional medicine in Asia, including in China, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Lao, Thailand, Vietnam, in several countries in Africa. Most reports concern the management of rheumatism, pain, and trauma.

The leaves, stems and roots are used in herbal preparations. It can also include numbness in the limbs, abdominal pain, headaches, and help to relieve asthma.

Externally, it can be ground into a paste to treat injuries and stop bleeding. 

Toxicity

All parts of the plant contain calcium oxalate crystals, saponins and terpenoids, toxic compounds which are irritants for cats and dogs. I presume children too ! These can cause swelling (in some cases leading to breathing difficulties), burning of the mouth, difficulty swallowing, vomiting, diarrhea, and itching. 

Cultivars

S. 'Compacta' smaller plant with dense clusters of glossy green leaves 

 'Dazzle'variegated, with some leaves almost completely creamy white  - it certainly dazzles !

'Gold Capella' variegated yellow or gold and green leaves 

 'Dwarf' dark green leaves, grows to height of 4 feet tall sorry -no picture 

 'Trinette' variegated cream and green leaves  - tends to need more light

 'Variegata' leaves are medium green with cream to yellow variegation - sorry no picture  

We use all of them indoors a lot because they are tough !

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PLANT SPECIALISTS

GREENING NEW YORK FOR OVER 53 YEARS !

Article written by our Staff Horticulturist, Peter B Morris, BSc, MSc, MBA

All photographs used with permission @SHUTTERSTOCK

Peter Morris

Peter was born and raised on a beautiful green island in the midst of a tropical rainforest. He was introduced into the world of plants at the age of six when his grandmother, an avid Spanish gardener herself, asked him to help her grow seeds for her pepper garden. He was hooked! By the time he was a teen, he had his own rose and orchid collection numbering in the hundreds. Botany was in his blood, and that is what he set out to study.

His passion brought him to NY in the late seventies to further his education. His tenacity allowed him to work full time at Plant Specialists while he completed a MS in Plant Biology. As a manager at the time he felt unsatisfied with his knowledge of business and business processes. Peter felt compelled to learn, so he then pursued and completed an MBA in Quality Management within a few short years.

Peter’s other passion is teaching. His natural ability is quickly consumed by our staff in all subjects in Botany, Horticulture, and Landscaping. He created an immense reference library of more than 3,500 plants providing an invaluable resource for our staff.

Peter’s breadth of knowledge and wisdom allows him to effectively diagnose the needs of plants. Sometimes just by walking into a garden he can create a prescription that fixes even the hardest issue. He is our Staff Botanist, Diagnostician, and all around Mentor. Recently, he has put his immense knowledge and skills into developing a new department that focuses on Plant Healthcare. As he puts it, “Magic through Science”. The PHC staff that surround him have avidly consumed his teachings. Substantially developing their own plant wisdom, many have taken on difficult plant health issues with spectacular results.

Plant Healthcare has been an instant success with customers! The proper treatment of insects and diseases including Organic methods has made pest control a necessity for every plant. Correcting hormonal imbalances caused by planting in containers or refurbishing soils leached of nutrients by irrigation systems are big challenges PHC has become quite comfortable addressing. The scientific approach to the complex demands of keeping plants healthy in our harsh city environment has made many a customer say WOW!

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