Schefflera (Umbrella Plant)
Schefflera arboricola
📖 About this plant
Schefflera arboricola, popularly known as the Umbrella Plant or Dwarf Umbrella Tree, is one of the most popular and forgiving indoor plants grown around the world. The common name comes from the arrangement of its glossy leaflets, which radiate outward from a central stalk like the spokes of an umbrella. Native to the subtropical forests of Taiwan and southern China, Schefflera has become a staple in homes and offices due to its elegant tropical appearance, tolerance of indoor conditions, and air-purifying properties. NASA research has confirmed that Schefflera effectively filters indoor air pollutants including formaldehyde, benzene, and toluene. The plant is available in both green and variegated forms, with the variegated cultivars (such as “Gold Capella” and “Trinette”) being particularly prized for their cream-and-yellow patterned foliage. Outdoors in frost-free climates, Schefflera becomes a large shrub or small tree and produces unusual, tentacle-like red or orange inflorescences in late summer. Indoors, it rarely flowers but provides year-round evergreen foliage. The plant is adaptable and forgiving of occasional neglect, making it ideal for beginner gardeners. With regular pruning, it can be maintained as a compact bush or trained into a taller tree form by removing lower leaves.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Bright indirect
Weekly
Moderate (40-60%)
18-27°C
Well-draining potting mix; pH 6.0-7.0
Balanced NPK every 4-6 weeks during growing season
🌐 Common Names
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Taiwan and Hainan (China)
- 📏 Max height
- 1.5-3 m indoors; up to 12 m outdoors
- 📐 Spread
- 1-1.5 m
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Rarely flowers indoors; outdoor plants bloom in late summer
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Red, orange, or yellow inflorescences (outdoor only)
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Glossy green leaflets; variegated forms have cream/yellow markings
- ⏳ Lifespan
- 10+ years indoors with proper care
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate — 30-60 cm per year
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Mildly toxic — contains calcium oxalates; keep away from pets and children
- 🌱 Propagation
- Stem cuttings in water or soil, air layering, seeds
🛡️ Health & Safety
Mildly toxic — contains calcium oxalates; keep away from pets and children
Common issues
- Spider mites in dry indoor air
- scale insects
- mealybugs
- leaf drop from overwatering or cold drafts
- root rot from poor drainage
- leaf yellowing from nutrient deficiency or low light
- bacterial leaf spot
💡 Care tips
- Place in bright indirect light — direct sun scorches leaves, low light causes leggy growth and loss of variegation.
- Water thoroughly when top 2-3 cm of soil is dry
- never let the pot sit in water.
- Mist occasionally or use a humidity tray to prevent spider mites in dry indoor air.
- Prune actively to control size and encourage bushy growth — cuttings root easily in water.
- Wipe leaves monthly with a damp cloth to remove dust and improve photosynthesis.
- Repot every 2-3 years in spring.
- Feed with balanced fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during the growing season.
- The plant is mildly toxic to pets due to calcium oxalates — keep out of reach of cats and dogs.
