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Umbrella plant care
Heptapleurum arboricola · Araliaceae
Also called Schefflera arboricola, Dwarf umbrella tree, Dwarf schefflera.
An evergreen shrub from Taiwan and Hainan whose glossy leaves are split into 7 to 9 leaflets arranged like the spokes of an umbrella. Long sold as Schefflera arboricola, it is a tough, low-maintenance houseplant that grows to 1-2 m in a pot and can be pruned to any size.
Light
Bright IndirectWatering
WeeklyDifficulty
EasyPets
Toxic to cats and dogsHeight indoors
1-2 m
Growth
Moderate
TemperatureUnconfirmed
16-27 °C
Not below 15 °C
HumidityUnconfirmed
50% - 70%
Likes humid air
Soil pH
5.5-7.0
Slightly acidic soil
Native to
- Taiwan
- China
Through the year
Water deeply, then let the soil almost dry before the next watering; reduce watering from autumn to late winter.
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Spring
WeeklyPrune, repot if needed and start feeding.
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Summer
WeeklyWater deeply when nearly dry and mist or use a pebble tray for humidity.
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Autumn
Every 2 weeksStop feeding and water a little less.
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Winter
Every 2 weeksKeep it above 15 °C, away from radiators and cold glass.
Feeding
Every 4 weeks in spring and summer. Balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Do not feed in winter.
Care tips
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Prune to shape
Cut stems back in spring to keep it bushy; it branches readily below the cut.
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Clean the leaves
Wipe them with a damp sponge to remove dust and spot pests early.
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Give it filtered sun
A few hours of curtain-filtered sun at an east or west window suits it well.
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Stake tall plants
Tie long, leaning stems to a cane to keep them upright.
Common problems
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Leaf drop
What you seeLeaves yellow and fall, often after the soil stayed wet or dried out completely.
What to doWater deeply but only once the soil is nearly dry, and keep the plant away from drafts.
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Spider mites
What you seeFine webbing and pale speckles on leaves in dry indoor air.
What to doShower the plant, wipe the leaves and treat with insecticidal soap; raise humidity.
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Scale insects
What you seeBrown bumps on stems and leaf undersides with sticky residue.
What to doScrape them off and treat with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap.
Pets
Is umbrella plant safe for cats and dogs?
Toxic to cats and dogs. Listed by the ASPCA under its former genus, Schefflera, as toxic to cats and dogs. Contains calcium oxalate crystals; chewing causes mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing.
Good to know
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In the wild it sometimes starts life perched on other trees, like an epiphyte.
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Botanists moved it from Schefflera to Heptapleurum after DNA studies, but it is still sold as schefflera.
