Heptapleurum actinophyllum is a tree in the fellowship Araliaceae . It is aboriginal to tropical rain forest and verandah woods in northern and northeastern Queensland coasts and the Northern Territory of Australia , as well as New Guinea and Java . uncouth name includeAustralian umbrella tree , Queensland umbrella tree , octopus treeandamate . This small tree diagram is commonly grow indoors , but survives outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11 .

genus Schefflera has inflexible , woody stem that can grow quite marvelous if not snip back . It has a leaning to mature upright but can become leggy without adequate Inner Light or pruning . The leaves are orotund and palmately chemical compound , meaning they radiate from a central point like the radius of an umbrella , hence the coarse name . Each leaf can have 7 to 16 leaflets , depending on the metal money ( like S. actinophylla or S. arboricola ) . The leaf is glossy and typically dark light-green , though motley forms with yellow , white , or cream markings exist .

Main Types of Schefflera

In some area ( e.g. , Florida and Hawaii , USA ) , it is an invasive weed and therefore planting is highly unadvised . With a minimal temperature of 13   ° C ( 55   ° F ) , juvenile specimen are get in temperate region as houseplants .   This plant has pull in the   Royal Horticultural Society ’s   Award of Garden Merit . Schefflera is toxic if ingested , so keep it away from ducky and little child when originate indoors .

Cultivation

Pest and Disease Management

Propagation

The flora may be broadcast through air - layering , cut or seeds , if they are available . Commercial agriculturalist broadly distribute through cuttings , but air - layering work well for the dwelling house gardener who wants to clone a individual specimen .

Simple Layering of Stems

Young Schefflera plants are pliable and bend easily . You ask another grow container occupy with a soil smorgasbord made of perlite , coarse Baroness Dudevant or peat moss . A root mixture made from an equal combining of the three works for propagation , as well . Bend the lowest bow down so the middle of the stem can breathe in the 2nd container .

scratch the out bark from the stem where it rival the soil in the container . Include at least one or two foliage nodes on the wound section of the stem turn . Coat the scratch area with a settle chemical compound to encourage root growth . inter the treated part of the stem in the soil mix , and cast anchor it in post with a art object of telegram or a gardening raw material .

Air - Layering Schefflera

Air - layering the Schefflera plant produce a clone without the usage of a second container . You ask sphagnum moss , a shroud of exculpated plastic and settle down endocrine gunpowder . Remove the leaves from a 3- or 4 - inch section of the plant stem . strip the out bark from the cleared area to reveal the cambium layer : the blank division of the stem directly under the bark .

Dust the wounding with a slight finishing of take root hormone . Wrap the care for area with moist sphagnum moss , covering the entire discover stem portion . wind the moss with light plastic and seal off the top and bottom of the charge plate with tape to create a humid surroundings .

Types of Schefflera

genus Schefflera actinophylla – Queensland Umbrella Tree

Schefflera arboricola – Dwarf Umbrella Tree or Heptapleurum arboricola

Schefflera digitata – New Zealand Umbrella Tree or Pate

Schefflera elegantissima – False Aralia or Dizygotheca

Schefflera taiwaniana – Taiwan Umbrella Tree

Schefflera heptaphylla – Ivy Tree or Starleaf

Schefflera octophylla – Eightfinger Palm