Umbrella Plant – Desert Horizon Nursery

Umbrella Plant

Schefflera arboricola
Categories:
Tropicals  ·  
Tropicals
Light
Partial shade
Water
Moderate water; water thoroughly when the top 1–2 inches of soil dry. Check containers frequently during summer heat, reduce watering in winter, and never leave roots standing in water.
Size
8-15 ft tall × 4-8 ft wide
Habit
Upright shrub
Toxicity
Toxic — Pets & Humans
Description
A tropical shrub with glossy, umbrella-like clusters of leaflets. Also known as dwarf umbrella tree; best grown in Phoenix as a sheltered patio container plant or houseplant.
Bloom Time
Rarely flowers in cultivation (grown for foliage)
Deciduous / Evergreen
Evergreen
Special Features
Colorful Foliage
Growth Rate
Moderate to fast
Growth Habit
Upright shrub
Mature Size
8-15 ft tall × 4-8 ft wide
Flower Color
Cream to yellow
Foliage Color
Dark green
Landscape Use
Container / Patio, Indoor / Houseplant, Specimen / Accent
Garden Style
Shade / Indoor, Tropical
Soil
Amended / Rich, Well-Drained
Companion Plants
Clivia, Philodendron, Shaded settings
Toxic — Pets & Humans
Toxic to pets & humans if ingested (calcium oxalates); causes oral irritation and drooling
Care Instructions

Light: Bright, filtered light or light shade outdoors; avoid intense Phoenix midday and afternoon sun. Indoors, provide bright, indirect light.

Water: Moderate water; water thoroughly when the top 1–2 inches of soil dry. Check containers frequently during summer heat, reduce watering in winter, and never leave roots standing in water.

Soil: Well-drained, organically enriched soil or potting mix amended with bark or perlite. Avoid compacted soil and poorly drained containers.

Mature size: Typically 4–8 feet tall and 3–6 feet wide in containers; can reach 10–15 feet tall and 6–10 feet wide outdoors in frost-free conditions.

Bloom: Mature outdoor plants may bloom in summer; flowering is uncommon indoors and in frequently pruned containers.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen; cold or other stress may cause leaf drop.

Growth rate: Moderate to fast with warmth, adequate moisture, and bright filtered light; slower indoors.