Schefflera arboricola (also listed as Heptapleurum arboricola)
Photo: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 US, via Wikimedia Commons.
LightBright, indirect light, ideally three to four hours of…
WaterWater deeply, then let the top 3 to 4 cm (about 1.5 in) dry…
ToxicityToxic to pets
Mature sizeIndoors in a container, 120 to 180 cm…
Umbrella Plant carries glossy leaflets arranged in a circle at the end of each stalk, like the ribs of an umbrella, on an upright woody stem. It is grown indoors as a small tree or bonsai that copes with ordinary rooms and can be kept to size by pruning.
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Care data checked 25 September 2026 · Dany · A-Z Plants
Light requirements
Bright, indirect light, ideally three to four hours of filtered sun at an east, west or south window.
Too much light: direct midday sun scorches and bleaches the leaves, and new growth comes in small and pale.
Too little light: stems stretch between leaves, leaflets shrink, and lower leaves yellow and drop.
Watering
Water deeply, then let the top 3 to 4 cm (about 1.5 in) dry before watering again, and cut back from autumn to late winter. Overwatering is the most common killer, because soggy soil rots the roots and the plant sheds leaves fast, but letting the mix go bone dry causes the same leaf drop.
Soil
A peat-based potting mix loosened with perlite or coarse bark, in a pot with a working drainage hole. It wants a rich, moist mix that drains freely, not heavy garden soil.
Feeding
Balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength every four weeks from spring to late summer. Stop feeding in winter when growth slows.
Temperature & humidity
18 to 27 degrees C (65 to 80 degrees F) in the growing season, with winter nights no lower than about 15 degrees C (60 degrees F). It likes high humidity, so mist the leaves or stand the pot on wet pebbles with the pot sitting above the water line.
What to expect
Indoors in a container, 120 to 180 cm (4 to 6 ft) tall and wide, kept smaller by pruning. Outdoors in the tropics it reaches 3 to 7.5 m (10 to 25 ft). Growth rate is medium.
Varieties & cultivars
'Trinette', cream and green variegated leaves, the most common variegate.
'Gold Capella', leaves splashed yellow and green.
'Variegata', medium green leaves with cream to yellow margins.
'Compacta', a smaller plant with dense clusters of glossy green leaves.
Schefflera actinophylla (umbrella tree), the bigger relative with larger leaflets and a taller indoor habit.
Umbrella Plant: questions
Is Umbrella Plant toxic to cats and dogs?
Toxic to people and pets. The ASPCA lists Schefflera, under the names umbrella tree, Australian ivy palm and octopus tree, as toxic to dogs and cats, and NC State Extension…
How much light does Umbrella Plant need?
Bright, indirect light, ideally three to four hours of filtered sun at an east, west or south window. - Too much light: direct midday sun scorches and bleaches the leaves, and new growth comes in small and pale. - Too little light: stems stretch between leaves, leaflets shrink, and lower leaves…
How often should I water Umbrella Plant?
Water deeply, then let the top 3 to 4 cm (about 1.5 in) dry before watering again, and cut back from autumn to late winter. Overwatering is the most common killer, because soggy soil rots the roots and the plant sheds leaves fast, but letting the mix go bone dry causes the same leaf drop.
How big does Umbrella Plant get?
Mature size indoors: Indoors in a container, 120 to 180 cm….
