Umbrella plant: location, toxicity & the most beautiful Schefflera varieties
Schefflera forms leathery leaves that sprout in a ray-like formation from the leaf stalks, giving the umbrella plant a decorative appearance. At the same time, this popular houseplant is very hardy and easy to care for.
Although the umbrella plant (Schefflera) is already a real eye-catcher in its monochromatic natural form, there are other varieties with patterned leaves. If you are looking for a low-maintenance, tall houseplant, Schefflera are a good choice.
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Umbrella plant: flowering time, origin and characteristics
The umbrella plant (Schefflera) belongs to the family Araliaceae. Of the approximately 500 Schefflera species, four can be kept as houseplants, but they are not hardy in our area. Originally, the dwarf umbrella tree (Schefflera arboricola) is native to Taiwan, but it is now common in other tropical and subtropical regions, as it is often used as an ornamental plant and left to run wild.
The umbrella plant owes its name to its leaves. These are elongated, pointed, shiny like varnish and several spread out from a single long petiole. Several leaves together thus create an umbrella-shape. In some cases, it is also commercially available as a lacquer sheet. In its native habitat, Schefflera arboricola can grow into trees up to 4 m tall, while as a houseplant it remains a smaller shrub at no more than 2 m tall. Schefflera grows quite quickly and can gain as much as 30 cm per year in good conditions.
The flowers of the umbrella plant are rather unspectacular in contrast to its leaves. The small, yellow-green flowers develop into orange-red, spherical fruits after pollination.
Can a Schefflera bloom? With ideal environmental conditions and appropriate care of the umbrella plant Schefflera can even bloom as a houseplant. The flowering period extends from July to August. Cool overwintering at around 16 °C, as well as refraining from regular pruning, both promote flower formation.
The most beautiful Schefflera species and varieties
Not only is the small Schefflera popular as a houseplant and office plant, but other Schefflera species such as the closely related Australian umbrella tree (Schefflera actionophylla) and the narrow-leaved false aralia (Schefflera elegantissima). Here, we give a brief overview of the species and some Schefflera cultivars.
- Dwarf umbrella tree (Schefflera arboricola): This species is very common as a houseplant and is available in several varieties. It is robust, easy to care for and grows between 30 and 200 cm tall.
- Dwarf umbrella tree ‘Gold Capella’: With this variety, the dark green leaves are variegated yellowish or light green.
- Dwarf umbrella tree ‘Nora’: The leaves of this variety are uniformly dark green in colour.
- Australian umbrella tree (Schefflera actinophylla): The Australian umbrella tree looks confusingly similar to dwarf umbrella trees. It can grow up to 2 m tall indoors, in nature it grows into trees 10 – 15 m tall. It is also called Queensland umbrella tree or octopus tree.
- False aralia (Schefflera elegantissima): With its narrow, marginally toothed leaves, this false aralia has a special appearance. As a houseplant, it grows up to 80 cm tall.
- Schefflera veitchii: This species can reach heights of 1 metre indoors and has leaves with wavy margins. It prefers slightly warmer temperatures of 18 – 25 °C.
Tip: Schefflera can even be maintained as a bonsai. However, this must be done carefully, because the shoots break easily.
Growing umbrella plants: location, soil and more
The umbrella plant is an indoor plant and must not be kept at temperatures below 10 °C. For this reason, you should not plant the Schefflera outside. In summer, place the umbrella tree, in its pot if possible, in a semi-shaded, wind-protected outdoor location. The rest of the year the Schefflera should be kept in an indoor location with light partial shade without direct sun. Varieties with lighter or patterned leaves may tolerate brighter conditions than dark green umbrella plants. Its temperature in summer should be between 18 and 20 °C, in the winter it can be cooled between 12 to 16 °C. Despite the fact that it is a tropical plant, the umbrella plant can cope well with dry air. Draught, on the other hand, is not tolerated.
Tip: The ratio of light and temperature is important for the growth of Schefflera. If the umbrella tree is too warm or too shaded, it tends to become leggy – that is, it forms long shoots with few leaves. Therefore, for compact growth, cooler temperatures of 18 to 20 °C should be maintained or lighting should be improved. For this purpose, for example, a plant lamp can be used.
When planting umbrella trees, it is best to use a high quality soil, such as our Plantura Organic Flower Compost. It retains its structure over a long period of time and can therefore store water and nutrients for a long time whilst making them available to the plant. The expanded clay ensures good permeability First, fill the pot with a drainage layer of coarse material, so that water can always drain away and will not lead to waterlogging. This is followed by a layer of soil, upon which the root ball of the Schefflera should be placed. Finally, fill in all the gaps with substrate and lightly press down so that the umbrella plant gets a good hold.
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After that, completely saturate the substrate with water. But be sure to remove everything that runs out of the pot. For this purpose, it is a good idea to immerse the pot in water and wait until there are no more air bubbles. After that, allow the soil to drain well.
Besides growing in soil, the Schefflera is also suitable for hydroponics. However, hydroponics requires the use of mineral fertilisers and is therefore not necessarily recommended.
Overwintering umbrella plant
Proper overwintering is important not only for healthy growth of Schefflera, but equally important for flower formation. The umbrella plant is prescribed a rest in the cold season. It should be placed in a bright and cool place at about 12 to 16 °C. You should also water it less during this period, but do not leave the root ball completely dry. Also avoid fertilising during the winter months. After its dormancy period, the umbrella tree will start growing again in the spring. This is the perfect time to repot, prune and propagate the Schefflera.
Is Schefflera poisonous?
The Schefflera is slightly poisonous, especially to pets. It contains oxalate crystals, which cannot be broken down by cats and dogs and lead to symptoms of poisoning if ingested. Skin contact should be avoided for safety, and the plant should not be consumed. Place the umbrella plant out of reach of children and pets.
The umbrella tree is not the only plant with extraordinary leaves, the Alocasia zebrina also provides special leaf decor. How to plant and care for Alocasia zebrina, read our article.
