General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Tree
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 9b -3.9 °C (25 °F) to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 12
Plant Height: 15 to 40 feet
Plant Spread: 10 to 15 feet
Leaves: Evergreen
Broadleaf
Fruit: Showy
Edible to birds
Other: Small, round reddish-purple, fleshy drupe.
Fruiting Time: Late fall or early winter
Flowers: Showy
Other: Trees need full sun location to flower.
Flower Color: Red
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Summer
Late summer or early fall
Underground structures: Taproot
Suitable Locations: Street Tree
Houseplant
Uses: Windbreak or Hedge
Shade Tree
Wildlife Attractant: Birds
Resistances: Humidity tolerant
Toxicity: Leaves are poisonous
Other: Plant contains Calcium oxylates; ingestion can cause mouth numbness, vomiting. Sap can cause contact dermatitis in some individuals.
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots

Image
Common names
  • Umbrella Tree
  • Octopus Tree
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Heptapleurum actinophyllum
  • Synonym: Schefflera actinophylla

Photo Gallery

Date: 2021-08-25
Location: Botanical garden of Crete
Date: 2022-06-01
Location: Kwajalein Marshall Islands
Date: 2000
Location: Botanical garden of Crete
Date: 2022-06-01
Location: Botanical garden of Crete
Date: 2022-06-01
Location: Southwest Florida
Date: August 2015
Location: Paraty-Mirim, Brazil
Date: 2010-02-20
Location: Sumatera Indonesia
Date: 2017-11-12
Location: Botanical garden of Crete
Date: 2022-06-01
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2011-03-18
Location: Southwest Florida
Date: July 2012
a fast growing tree that can get very large.
Location: San Antonio Botanical Garden, San Antonio, Texas
Date: 2022-04-04
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2021-08-10
Location: Sanford, FL
Date: 2021-05-30
Location: Lobby of the Lowe Hotel, Point Pleasant, West Virginia
Date: 2017-09-14
Location: San Antonio Botanical Garden, San Antonio, Texas
Date: 2022-04-04
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2021-08-10
Stem of juvenile plant
Location: m
Date: 2014-01
sidewalk planting
Location: Miami, FL
Date: 2014-01
sidewalk planting
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-02-02

Date: Summer 2008

Date: Summer 2009
Photo by dave
Location: Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii
Date: 2012-11-10
Location: Cypress Gardens, Florida
Location: Cypress Gardens, Florida
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2021-08-10
Leaves of a juvenile plant
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2011-12-03 
One at my new home that I need to transplant, this tree should ne
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2015-07-15
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2015-09-02
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2015-09-02
Location: Southwest Florida
Date: July 2012
this picture shows why this tree is sometimes called 'Octopus Tre

Date: Summer 2009
Location: Botanical Garden University Gent, Belgium
Date: 2015-09-04

Date: March 8, 2011
Location: Paraty-Mirim, Brazil
Date: 2010-02-20
Location: Kaua'i
Date: 2014-06-22
This plant is tagged in:
Image Image

Comments:
  • Posted by plantladylin (Sebastian, Florida - Zone 10a) on Sep 19, 2011 6:41 PM concerning plant:
    Native to Australia, the Schefflera actinophylla is an upright tree with multiple trunks. Crowns of large showy leaves form an umbrella shape giving it the popular name "Umbrella Tree". This Schefflera is a popular landscape and street tree in the southern part of Florida. I had a large tree here in my zone 9 Florida yard for many years but our last two unusually frigid winters finally killed it completely.
  • Posted by Dutchlady1 on Jul 29, 2012 11:20 AM concerning plant:
    This tree is very invasive in our area. Even though I don't have a tree myself, there are many in my neighborhood, and I find seedlings growing everywhere, including in the cups of my Bromeliads! So, although they are attractive, they need to be kept firmly in check.
Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
This looks like Schefflera by purpleinopp Feb 4, 2015 4:19 PM 3

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