Houseplant
Schefflera (Umbrella Plant)
Schefflera arboricola · Araliaceae
Also called: Dwarf Umbrella Tree, Dwarf Schefflera, Heptapleurum arboricola (current accepted name), Octopus Tree
Schefflera (Umbrella Plant) (Schefflera arboricola) is a moderate-water houseplant well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It's a moderate to fast-growing houseplant. Expect red to white (rare indoors) blooms Rarely flowers indoors.
Schefflera (Umbrella Plant) at a glance
- Water use
- Moderate (established)
- Sun
- Bright indirect light indoors; tolerates medium light but gets leggy in low light. Avoid intense direct Tucson window sun, which can scorch foliage.
- Mature size
- Indoors typically 4-8 ft tall (controllable by pruning); dwarf form stays smaller than the large-leaved Schefflera actinophylla.
- Growth rate
- Moderate to fast
- Bloom
- Red to white (rare indoors), Rarely flowers indoors; grown for foliage.
- Cold hardiness
- Frost-tender; keep above ~50 F indoors. Not reliably winter-hardy outdoors in Tucson.
- Soil
- Well-draining, peat-based potting mix in a pot with drainage holes.
- Native range
- Taiwan and Hainan (southern China)
- Best used as
- Indoor floor specimen, Foliage screen or accent, Office/low-maintenance interior plant, Air-purifying houseplant
- Wildlife
- None relevant indoors.
- Toxicity
- Toxic to cats, dogs, and humans; contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals causing oral irritation, drooling, and GI upset. Keep away from pets and children.
How to grow Schefflera (Umbrella Plant) in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Water when the top inch or two of soil dries out, roughly every 7-10 days, less in winter. Allow excess to drain fully; this plant is prone to root rot if kept soggy and drops leaves if it dries out too severely. Tucson's dry indoor air may speed drying, so check regularly.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Feed monthly spring through summer with a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer at half to full strength; reduce or stop in winter.
Pruning & care
Prune to control height and encourage bushiness; cut back leggy stems and pinch growing tips. Responds well to hard pruning and is easy to keep compact.
Notes
A tough, popular indoor plant in Tucson, grown for its glossy umbrella-like compound leaves. Note the botanical name has been reclassified to Heptapleurum arboricola, though Schefflera arboricola remains in wide horticultural use. Wipe leaves to deter spider mites and scale, which favor dry desert indoor air. Variegated forms need brighter light to hold their color.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List; Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder