Schefflera is a large genus of tropical plants that includes two species that make wonderful tropical houseplants. The larger Schefflera actinophylla(sometimes called the umbrella plant or umbrella tree) features long, shiny, oval green leaves that droop gracefully from a central stalk, resembling an umbrella. A mature Schefflera might have 12 to 16 leaflets from a single stalk, while an immature Schefflera is more likely to have four to six. Schefflera arboricola (sometimes called dwarf Schefflera) features smaller, glossy leaves, sometimes with creamy variegation. Other than the smaller size, it looks very similar to its taller cousin.
Hardy in USDA hardiness zone 10 to 12, Schefflera pants are usually grown indoors for most of the year in cooler climates but can be taken outdoors for the warmer months, where they will thrive alongside other tropical plants. However, Schefflera plants typically have to be grown outdoors to display their show of long red, white, or pink tentacle-like flowers. Plants grown indoors rarely produce flowers.
Schefflera plants are fast-growing plants, especially if planted outdoors, where they can add three feet per year. Indoor plants are slower-growing, especially if you keep them somewhat confined in a tight-fitting container. If you are planting a Schefflera in a warm climate garden, they are best planted in spring or fall when the weather is not blazing hot.
All parts of the Schefflera plant are mildly toxic to humans and more seriously toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.
| Common Name | Schefflera, umbrella plant, umbrella tree |
| Botanical Name | Schefflera spp. |
| Family | Araliaceae |
| Plant Type | Broadleaf evergreen |
| Mature Size | 4 to 6 feet. tall, 3 to 6 feet wide (indoors); up to 25 feet tall (outdoors) |
| Sun Exposure | Bright, indirect light |
| Soil Type | Rich and moderately moist |
| Soil pH | Slightly acidic (6.0-6.5) |
| Bloom Time | Summer (outdoors) |
| Flower Color | White, pink, or red (indoor plants rarely bloom) |
| Hardiness Zones | 10–12 (USDA) |
| Native Area | Taiwan |
| Toxicity | Mildly toxic humans, toxic to pets |
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Watch Now: How to Grow the Schefflera Plant (Umbrella Plant)
Schefflera Care
Schefflera are not difficult plants to grow if they receive plenty of indirect light, warmth, and humidity. In very cold climates, bottom heat might be necessary. Leggy Schefflera can be pruned to encourage a fuller plant.
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Light
Schefflera prefers bright, indirect light. In the summer, move potted plants outside where they will receive bright light but not direct sun, such as under a patio cover. A Schefflera plant that gets leggy or floppy might not be receiving enough light.Never place a Schefflera in direct, full sunlight because the intense sun can burn the leaves.
Soil
If growing indoors, plant Schefflera in a rich, loose, well-drained potting soil. When grown outdoors, a well-draining, sandy loam soil with a slightly acidic pH is ideal.Avoid planting in an outdoor location where the soil becomes too wet or waterlogged.
Water
Water regularly during the growing season and spray the leaves with water frequently. Wait until the soil in the pot dries out and then give it a deep and thorough soaking. Cut back on water during the winter months. Overwatering a Schefflera plant will eventually kill it.Yellow and dropped leaves are a sign that you might be watering too much.
Temperature and Humidity
Because it is a tropical plant, Schefflera requires fairly high humidity and tropical temperatures; it will suffer in temperatures lower than 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not expose these plants to drafts or dry heating vents. An underwatered or cold Schefflera will begin to drop leaves quickly, so take leaf-drop seriously and correct the issue if it occurs. If the plant loses all of its leaves, you can attempt to save the plant by moving it outdoors in the spring and watering generously.
Fertilizer
Feed Schefflera plants twice a week during the growing season with liquid fertilizer, or use two applications of slow-release pellets. They are heavy feeders and will benefit from the extra nutrients.
Types of Schefflera
Of the many species in the Schefflera genus, two are common houseplants:
- Schefflera actinophylla:This most common Schefflera has oval leaves that grow up to ten inches from a central stalk. It can be quite a large 50-foot specimen outdoors, but indoor potted specimens usually reach 15 feet tall.
- S. arboricola:This smaller version, popular in home gardens, has one- to two-inch leaves that grow in tight clusters; it is a variegated variety of this plant, with creamy blotches on its leaves. It can grow as tall as 25 feet outdoors, but houseplants are normally kept to no more than six feet. Popular cultivars include 'Dazzle', a variegated form with nearly white leaves; 'Gold Capella', a yellow and green variegated form; 'Trinette', a white and cream variegated plant; and 'Dwarf', which has dark green leaves and grows to only about four feet tall.
Pruning
Your Schefflera might need to be pruned occasionally, especially if it is not getting quite enough light. Cut off what you feel is overgrown or appearing leggy. Schefflera houseplants rebound quickly from pruning and will reward your efforts. The result will be a fuller and bushier plant.
Propagating Schefflera
It's best to propagate Schefflera in the spring: Doing so keeps your current plant from being too bushy, and provides you with new plants. Schefflera can be propagated by cuttings.
- Using sharp pruners, cut off a six-inch section of stem at a 45-degree angle, and remove all but four or five leaves at the top of the stem.
- Dip the cut end in rooting hormone, then place the cut end into a container filled with potting soil.
- Cover the pot with a loosely secured plastic bag to hold in humidity, then place the pot in bright indirect light.
- Check the container daily to make sure the soil remains moist, watering when necessary. Check for root development by lightly tugging on the stem.
- After about a month, if roots have formed, you can remove the plastic bag and continue growing the new plant. If roots don't form (success can be sporadic), discard the cutting and try again with a new cutting.
Potting and Repotting Schefflera
Repot the plants annually or as needed: if they've grown too big for their containers they need new soil and a bigger pot. (You can slow the growth rate and prevent plants from getting too large by prolonging the period between repotting and allowing them to get somewhat rootbound).
If you choose to repot Schefflera, remove it from its container and gently loosen up the roots; it might help to soak them in water. To repot, select a larger container (clay or plastic) that has drainage holes, fill it with a peaty well-drained soil mix.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Both bacterial leaf spot and alternaria leaf spot affect Schefflera. These diseases can easily be remedied by avoiding overhead watering, not watering in the evening, and if these watering practices don't work, applying a copper fungicide.
Indoors, Schefflera are prone to problems with aphids, which leave a honeydew excretion that leads to sooty mold; treat for aphids with a spray of insecticidal soap. Outdoors, the plant is susceptible to several pests, including mealybugs, spider mites, and scale insects.
Common Problems With Schefflera
Schefflera is a low maintenance plant, but sometimes your plant can exhibit some problems. Here's how to determine what's wrong.
Yellowing Leaves
Overwatering is often the cause when your Schefflera's leaves turn yellow. Try watering less to see if this helps. If not, your plant might not be receiving enough light so move it to a brighter location.
Brown Spots on Leaves
Underwatering is likely the cause for spots on your Schefflera. In that situation, water your plant more regularly during the growing season. A best practice is to water the plant deeply and allow the soil to dry out before before giving it another deep watering.
FAQ
Outdoor Scheffleras grown in the right hardiness zones can live for decades; indoor specimens can live for 25 years or longer.
A location with lots of bright, indirect light—and a temperature between 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit—is the perfect spot for this tropical beauty.
Money tree (Pachira aquatica) has a similar look to Schefflera, especially if you find a braided variety that will offer a bushier appearance. A native of Central and South America, the money tree is hardy in USDA zones 10 to 12 but is commonly grown as an indoor houseplant.
Article Sources
The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
https://ucanr.edu/sites/poisonous_safe_plants/Toxic_Plants_by_common_Name_659/
“Schefflera Are Toxic To Pets.”Pet Poison Helpline, 4 Oct. 2011, https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/schefflera/
(Video) UMBRELLA TREE: SCHEFFLERA PLANT CARE TIPS AND PROPAGATION“Schefflera Arboricola - Plant Finder.”Missouribotanicalgarden.Org, https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=276622&isprofile=0&letter=S
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FAQs
Where is the best place to put an umbrella plant? ›
Solution: Your indoor Umbrella plant can adapt to low light areas, but its growth will slow. It's still best to place your plant in a warm well-lit spot, where it can get bright, indirect sunlight.
How do I encourage my umbrella plant to grow? ›If you want to speed up how quickly your plant will recover, place the plant outdoors during the summer months. The increased light and humidity outdoors will supercharge your schefflera's growth. You can even give your schefflera another light trimming by late summer to encourage further bushiness if you desire.
How do you encourage new growth on Schefflera? ›Schefflera plants respond well to pruning for height and fullness. As plants age, the lower leaves will fall off, leaving bare stems. To encourage new growth, simply snip off the top of the plant at the desired height. You can also pinch off the growing tips of the plant for bushier growth.
How often should I water my Schefflera? ›Schefflera Amates like to dry out significantly between waterings. The most common mistake made with these plants is overwatering. Let the soil almost completely dry out between waterings. Typically, you don't want to water your Schefflera more than once every 10 days.
How do I make my umbrella plant bushy? ›Trimming Schefflera houseplants can be achieved by cutting off the tops of the tallest stalks about an inch (2.5 cm.) above the spot where the next leaf down is attached. This will encourage more growth outward from the stalk instead of upward.
Should you Mist umbrella plant? ›Your umbrella trees come from a naturally-humid environment. They love moist air, and you can provide that indoors with a plant humidifier. Occasional misting of the leaves with warm water is fine too.
Can I cut the top off my umbrella plant? ›Luckily, this is one of the easiest ways to prune. All you need to do is to cut a bit of the top growth to make your plant shorter. Making your umbrella plant shorter is easy: simply cut an upright stem just above a growth node. This means cutting right above the spot where the leaf has sprouted.
What do you feed an umbrella plant? ›Umbrella plants don't need regular fertilizer, but for faster growth, you can give your plant a standard diluted plant fertilizer once a month during the summer. Keep the leaves dust-free by wiping with a damp cloth or sponge.
Does Schefflera like sun or shade? ›Choose a location with partial to full shade or even full sun when growing Schefflera plants outdoors. Incorporate plenty of well-rotted compost, leaf litter, or other organic amendments.
How do you get Schefflera to branch? ›If you want to promote branching on a Schefflera plant, you want to pinch the growth tip(s) every week or so. Doing this will encourage the new areas to form a branch rather than become stunted.
Why are the leaves falling off my Schefflera plant? ›
Why is my Schefflera plant losing its leaves? If your Schefflera plant is losing its leaves, the soil may be too wet, or conversely, too dry. Additionally, if you frequently move your plant around or expose it to extreme cold or hot, it may also drop its leaves.
What kind of soil does an umbrella plant need? ›If growing indoors, plant Schefflera in a rich, loose, well-drained potting soil. When grown outdoors, a well-draining, sandy loam soil with a slightly acidic pH is ideal. Avoid planting in an outdoor location where the soil becomes too wet or waterlogged.
What is the best fertilizer for Schefflera? ›Schefflera Plant Care – Fertilizer Requirements
Schefflera houseplants perform best when a balanced (20-20-20) liquid fertilizer is applied monthly during growth. Another option is to adjust to half-strength fertilizer and apply when watering every 2-3 weeks.
How do I know if my Schefflera needs water? Testing the top layer of the soil is a primary way to gauge if your Schefflera has dried up enough from its previous watering. If the top two inches of soil are completely dry, your Schefflera is ready for another watering.
Are coffee grounds good for schefflera plant? ›Fertilize scheffleras regularly with a gentle organic fertilizer. Plants growing in reduced light will need less frequent fertilization than plants growing in bright light. Coffee grounds make an excellent fertilizer for this plant.
How do you shape an umbrella plant? ›How to Prune a Schefflera Plant : Gardening & Plant Care - YouTube
Do umbrella plants like to be root bound? ›Plants That Prefer to be Root Bound
Spider plant. African violets. Aloe. Umbrella tree.
Like with many other bushy plants, schefflera plant cuttings will create a perfect clone of the parent plant, with no chance of mutations as you would encounter with planting seeds. Propagate your schefflera with cuttings and you'll have a collection of plants healthy and growing within a month or so.
How long do umbrella plants live? ›Schefflera plants can live for decades in optimal conditions. Grown indoors, these plants can live up to 25 years even.
How many times should I water an umbrella plant? ›This plant grow towards the light so rotate it around every month for even growth. Water every 7-14 days or as the soil becomes dry. This plant is flexible about watering but will be more tolerant of dry soil than overwatering. Yellow leaves are a sign of overwatering and drooping leaves are a sign it needs more water.
Why are the leaves on my umbrella plant turning brown and falling off? ›
This is caused by over watering. Scheffleras are very susceptible to root rot and other diseases, especially if they are kept inside. If most of the leaves have fallen off, it will not survive.
Can you root Schefflera cuttings in water? ›Propagating Schefflera in water is simple and can be done over and over again using cuttings. Keeping your cuttings in water, in a shady area, and applying growth hormone promotes quick root growth. You can expect to have roots after six weeks and a full, healthy, new plant in 3-4 months.
How do you split an umbrella plant? ›How to Propagate the Umbrella Tree | Schefflera - YouTube
Why is my umbrella plant leggy? ›If your plant starts looking leggy, that's a sign that it's in need of more light. However, it's best to avoid placing your plant in direct sunlight, which can damage the leaves. If you start to notice root rot, you're likely overwatering your umbrella plant.
Should I repot my umbrella plant? ›Once an umbrella plant reaches maturity, it will need to be repotted every three years or so. Once the roots start growing through the drainage holes in the pot, it is time to repot.
Can I root an umbrella plant in water? ›Umbrella Plant propagation is best done by growing stem cuttings in soil or water. They can also be propagated from seed or by air layering, but these have limitations.
How quickly do umbrella plants grow? ›They are low maintenance and can survive in less than ideal growing conditions. At maturity, umbrella plants can reach heights between 5 and 50 feet. These plants typically grow more than 13 inches each year. So, you'll likely need to prune them to control their heights.
When should I repot my Schefflera? ›The two main reasons to replant any plant are to grow it larger and to replace depleted soil. Schefflera repotting may see it moved to a larger container to grow it bigger or into the same pot with fresh soil and a gentle root trim. Either should be done in spring, according to houseplant experts.
How do you care for an indoor Schefflera plant? ›Your Schefflera Arboricola prefers bright indirect light but can tolerate lower light conditions as well. Rotate your plant a half-turn once a month. As it grows, it leans towards the light, so this will keep it looking full and even. Water your Schefflera when the top 75% of the soil is dry.
How big do Schefflera plants get? ›Scheffleras are usually 2 to 3 feet tall when sold, and grow to 8 feet or more in height. It is possible to prune them to maintain a lower height.
How much sun do umbrella plants need? ›
Provide them with at least 4 hours of light a day. They will stay healthy and grow properly if they are getting the required light.
Do umbrella plants like direct sunlight? ›Although umbrella plants do best in bright, indirect light, they can usually tolerate direct indoor light, and will just grow more slowly and become leggy in medium-to-low light. Humidity is generally not a concern, but the plants can be more susceptible to pests like scale and spider mites if the air is too dry.
Why are the leaves on my umbrella plant turning brown and falling off? ›This is caused by over watering. Scheffleras are very susceptible to root rot and other diseases, especially if they are kept inside. If most of the leaves have fallen off, it will not survive.
When should I water my umbrella plant? ›Umbrella plants should be watered once or twice weekly depending on how warm the temperature is. During the summer months, watering twice a week should be sufficient, but you may need to water every couple of days during very warm weather. During the winter, water every week to ten days.
How long do umbrella plants live? ›Schefflera plants can live for decades in optimal conditions. Grown indoors, these plants can live up to 25 years even.
How do you care for an indoor umbrella plant? ›Water regularly during the growing season and spray the leaves with water frequently. Wait until the soil in the pot dries out and then give it a deep and thorough soaking. Cut back on water during the winter months. Overwatering a Schefflera plant will eventually kill it.
Do umbrella plants like coffee grounds? ›Coffee grounds make an excellent fertilizer for this plant. Repot overcrowded plants at any season, using an organic potting soil. To keep plants small, prune just above a leaf.
Why are the leaves falling off my Schefflera plant? ›Why is my Schefflera plant losing its leaves? If your Schefflera plant is losing its leaves, the soil may be too wet, or conversely, too dry. Additionally, if you frequently move your plant around or expose it to extreme cold or hot, it may also drop its leaves.
Do umbrella plants like to be root bound? ›Plants That Prefer to be Root Bound
Spider plant. African violets. Aloe. Umbrella tree.
The two main reasons to replant any plant are to grow it larger and to replace depleted soil. Schefflera repotting may see it moved to a larger container to grow it bigger or into the same pot with fresh soil and a gentle root trim. Either should be done in spring, according to houseplant experts.
How do you prune a Schefflera umbrella plant? ›
How to Prune a Schefflera Plant : Gardening & Plant Care - YouTube
Will leaves grow back on Schefflera? ›Even young Schefflera can drop leaves when adjusting to a new environment. However, excessive unexplained leaf loss can be cause for concern, as Schefflera will not grow new leaves in the same place as old, dropped leaves.
How do you reset a Schefflera plant? ›Dip the cut end of the cutting into rooting hormone powder, place it in the hole, and gently pat the soil around the stem to secure it in place. Water the soil and place the pot in a place that gets steady light but not direct sunlight. The stem will begin to grow roots within a few weeks.
Does Schefflera like sun or shade? ›Choose a location with partial to full shade or even full sun when growing Schefflera plants outdoors. Incorporate plenty of well-rotted compost, leaf litter, or other organic amendments.
Where do you cut an umbrella plant to propagate? ›You can cut an umbrella plant pretty much anywhere to create a cutting. You need a leaf node – those brown spots on the stem – which is where the new roots will grow from. Umbrella plant stems are covered with them, so any cutting at least a few inches long will have several nodes!
How do you know if your umbrella plant is underwater? ›If you notice that the drooping leaves are more towards the bottom of the plant, it may be due to underwatering as your plant prioritises new healthy growth over its older leaves. Stick a finger in the top few centimetres of the soil to check the moisture.