Consulta Plantas

Care of the shrub Schefflera arboricola or Dwarf umbrella 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 arboricola, Schefflera actinophylla, Schefflera digitata, Schefflera pueckleri, Schefflera wallichiana.

Common names: Dwarf umbrella tree, Dwarf Schefflera. This species is native to Taiwan and Hainan.

They are evergreen shrubs of columnar bearing that reach 6 meters (19.68 feet) in height. The leathery leaves are webbed and composed of bright green or variegated obovate leaflets. The flowers appear in erect clusters, are white or greenish in color and are not decorative. They bloom in summer and early fall. The fruits are yellow or orange and can be decorative. Indoors they do not usually bloom.

They are used to form bushy groups, informal hedges, as isolated specimens and in pots as indoor, greenhouse and patio and terrace plants. They are also suitable for bonsai.

Schefflera arboricola grows in full sun and semi-shade exposures; indoors it prefers a dim light exposure. They resist occasional and very light frosts.

The soil can be normal garden soil that contains organic matter and some coarse sand. Transplant in early spring if the roots are showing below the pot.

Water moderately in spring and summer, waiting until the substrate has almost dried; greatly reduce watering in winter. The humidity must be high; periodically spray the leaves with lime-free water, especially in summer.

Fertilize in summer every 2 weeks with mineral fertilizer and in autumn with compost.

They can be lightly pruned after flowering to maintain a compact appearance.

They are plants prone to attack by aphids, mealybugs and mites if they suffer from drought or the humidity is low. If water accumulates in the roots, the leaves turn yellow. Avoid drafts and sudden changes in temperature.

They are propagated from cuttings in summer planted in a moist substrate using rooting hormones.

Images of the shrub Schefflera arboricola or Dwarf umbrella tree