Many, many years ago, the Schefflera actinophylla (now known as Heptapleurum actinophylla) – aka schefflera tree, Queensland umbrella-tree, or octopus’ tree – was a staple local plant for indoor containers, dish gardens, and sometimes even for outdoor landscape planting. The UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants now classifies this plant as “Invasive (No Uses)”. Seeds were spread by birds all over and this plant began to show up in the wrong place – the classic definition of a weed. Small plants set out in the garden by well-meaning homeowners soon became massive, over-powering trees with extensive roots taking over their property. While Schefflera actinophylla fell out favor, old specimens are still around producing flowers and seeds – continue to be on the lookout for seedlings popping up. Enter a different type of schefflera, a dwarf type with deep green leaves – some with beautiful variegation. This new short schefflera fit the bill as a prized landscape plant – the dwarf schefflera.
Originally from China and Taiwan, the foliage color of the dwarf schefflera or Schefflera arboricola, (now known as Heptapleurum arboricola) is dark glossy green with palmate, pinwheel-like, compound leaves forming a rounded evergreen shrub. Seldom bigger than ten feet tall, this large shrub occasionally sports colorful orange-yellow inedible fruit in the winter. A very dense shrub already, bushiness can be enhanced by pinching the tips of stems to force more side-shoots to develop and to keep the plant in bounds. As such, the dwarf schefflera is ideal for short to medium hedges, espaliers, outdoor containers or even as an indoor plant. This plant has many additional landscaping attributes including doing well from full sun to part-shade sites. One of the best shrubs for shady conditions, dwarf schefflera likes sandy, well-drained soil and does best on the dry side once established. Highly drought-tolerant once established and moderately salt-tolerant, dwarf schefflera is hardy in our area and will snap back nicely if damaged by a frost.
One more quality of some types of this fine cultivated shrub is variegation – a real beautiful foliage color palette to add to the landscape. Cultivars have been found and propagated with yellow and white splashes of color. Named cultivars such as ‘Gold Capella’, ‘Dazzle’, ‘Jacqueline’, ‘Renate’, and ‘Trinette’ were developed with ‘Trinette’ being the most common and popular. Variegated dwarf schefflera are readily available at almost all garden centers year-round – a real “tried and true” item in the landscape.
Dwarf schefflera are the way to go for colorful foliage and proven landscape success – another Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ approved plant! For more information on all types of shrubs suitable for our area, or to ask a question, you can also call the Master Gardener Volunteer Helpdesk on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1 to 4 pm at 764-4340 for gardening help and insight into their role as an Extension volunteer. Ralph E. Mitchell is the Director/Horticulture Agent for UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County. He can be reached at 941-764-4344 or ralph.mitchell@charlottecountyfl.gov. Connect with us on social media. Like us on Facebook @CharlotteCountyExtension and follow us on Instagram @ifascharco.
Resources:
Heptapleurum actinophylla. (2025) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schefflera_actinophylla.
Heptapleurum arboricola. (2025) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heptapleurum_arboricola.
Gilman, E. F. & Watson, D. G. (2014) Schefflera arboricola: Dwarf Schefflera. The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.
Gilman, E. F., Watson, D. G.. Klein, R. W., Koeser, A. K., Hilbert, D. R. & McLean, D. C. (2018) Schefflera actinophylla:. Schefflera. The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.
The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Guide to Plant Selection & Landscape Design (2022) The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.
UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas. (2025). The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.
Poole, R.T., Chase, A.R. & Osborne, L.S. (1991) Schefflera Production Guide. The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.
Russ, K. & Pertuit, A. (2015) Schefflera. Home and Garden Information Center – Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service .
Gabriella Plants (2025) https://www.gabriellaplants.com/search?q=Scheflerra&options%5Bprefix%5D=last .
Missouri Botanical Garden (2025) Schefflera arboricola. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=276622&kempercode=c334%22.
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