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Schefflera actinophylla

Queensland umbrella tree

S. actinophylla is an evergreen shrub or small tree to 4m or more, with leathery leaves composed of 5 or more radiating oblong leaflets to 30cm in length; erect panicles of small dull red flowers, followed by black fruits

Other common names

Australian ivy palm
octopus tree

Synonyms

Brassaia actinophylla
Heptapleurum actinophylla

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Ultimate height

2.5–4 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

1.5–2.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

West–facing or South–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

H1B

Botanical details

Family: Araliaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Contact may cause skin allergies. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus: Schefflera can be evergreen shrubs, trees or climbers with long-stalked palmately divided leaves and, on mature plants only, panicles or racemes of small flowers followed by spherical fleshy fruits
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Australia & New Guinea

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass or in a sheltered, frost-free enviroment. Leaves of juvenile plants have fewer smaller leaflets than adult plants

Propagation

Propagate by seed or semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be attacked by soft scale, thrips and mealybugs

Diseases

Generally disease free

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