Schefflera actinophylla or Octopus Tree

Care of the indoor plant Schefflera actinophylla or Octopus Tree

The genus Schefflera, family Araliaceae, includes more than 600 species of trees, shrubs, and climbing plants native to Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific islands. Some species are: Schefflera actinophylla, Schefflera arboricola, Schefflera digitata, Schefflera pueckleri, Schefflera wallichiana.

Common names: Australian Ivy Palm, Octopus Tree, Schefflera, Starleaf, Amate, Umbrella Tree, Australia umbrella tree, Queensland umbrella tree. This species is native to Australia, New Guinea and Java.

They are tropical evergreen trees that reach 15 meters (49.2 feet) in height; indoors they reach 2 meters (6.56 feet) in height. The elegant palmate leaves are composed of leathery leaflets (up to 30 cm/11.8" in length) of bright green color. The red flowers appear in erect racemes up to 2 meters (6.56 feet) in length. They bloom in summer. They do not usually flower indoors.

This easy-to-grow plant is used as indoor, greenhouse, and patio plants. In tropical and subtropical climates Octopus Tree is used as isolated specimens and in streets and public parks.

Schefflera actinophylla needs full sun or semi-shade exposure and high humidity.

The soil can be a mixture, in equal parts, of leaf mulch, coarse sand, and peat. The transplant is done in spring if necessary.

Water regularly, better with lime-free water, waiting for the substrate surface to dry. In summer, periodically spray the leaves with lime-free water if grown indoors.

Fertilize every 2 weeks with mineral fertilizer in spring and summer.

Australia umbrella tree does not need pruning.

Schefflera actinophylla is a plant prone to aphids attack if it suffers drought and if the environmental humidity is low.

Octopus Tree is propagated from cuttings in spring; Rooting in a mixture of 1/2 coarse sand and 1/2 peat using rooting hormones.