Cutflower Nomenclature

Scientific/Botanical Name:

Genus: Schefflera

Specie: S. arboricola

Variety/Cultivar:

English Name:

 

Common Name:

Dwarf Umbrella Tree.

Botanical Family:

Name in Latin: Araliaceae

Name in English: Aralia Family, Ivy Family

The Plant

Origin: native to Taiwan

Growth Habit: evergreen shrub growing to 3-6 m tall, free-standing, or clinging to the trunks of other trees.

Flower: flowers are produced in a 20 cm panicle of small umbels, each umbel 7-10 mm diameter with 5-10 flowers.

Blooming Period: late spring/early summer

Leaf: leaves are palmately compound, with 7-9 leaflets, the leaflets 9-20 cm long and 4-10 cm broad

Usage:

commonly grown as a houseplant, popular for its tolerance of neglect and poor growing conditions

Care and Handling

Soil: all purpose or tropical mix soil.

Amount of water: moist but not wet, does not like to sit in water.

Nutrition: Feed monthly spring through summer with a water soluble fertilizer.

Special handling: prefers higher light if possible, but can adapt to a wide variety of light levels.

Special feature/remarks:

The umbrella plant lends itself easily to the bonsai form and is popular as an indoor bonsai. Under the right conditions, this plant will produce aerial roots that, when they reach the ground, will convert to fully functional roots. They give the plant an unusual and interesting appearance.