Schefflera can be easily grown from seed offered from the GreenDealer Exotic Seeds selection of Tropical Housplants and Lawn Shrubs & Hedges.

The specimen above was photographed on my patio in Louisville, Kentucky, November 1, 1998.

This Genus of trees belongs to the Araliaceae or Aralia Family. They are winter hardy in Zones 10 - 11, but are commonly grown as houseplants everywhere. There are more species than those listed above (actually the first and second listed above are the same). These represent the most widely grown as houseplants. In Zones 10 and 11, S. actinophylla can grow to 40 ft. and produce flowers with octopus-like stalks and tiny flowers. Black fruits follow the flowering period and contain the seeds.

The dwarf species, S. arboricola resembles the larger variety in nearly every detail but is smaller and is used as hedges in Zones 10 and 11 and can be grown indoors anywhere.

Both species are grown as houseplants. I have had mine for 20 years and it has not grown taller than 6 ft. yet I believe it is the Schefflera actinophylla or larger species. Life in containers will prevent most species from realizing their full potential as far as size goes. My Schefflera is rather moody. It does not like to be moved. Even turning it to allow leaves away from light to receive more light must be done very gradually or the whole plant will start to droop. I have tried taking it outside during the warmth of late spring and putting it in filtered light for a few days before exposing it to full sun. It actually grows more during the winter months inside beneath a grow-light. Over the years, I have learned to let it have its way. I keep it in the same place all year except for its summer vacation outdoors. There is a skylight over it about 10 ft. away, yet it responds better to the plant light I have put into the track light about 4 ft. from it. During the winter when this light is on more hours per day than in the summer, my Schefflera does its best growing and looks the healthiest. Its Shiny leaves really glisten in the light and it seems to enjoy being misted several times a week. I water it as needed, about every 10 or 12 days.

I feed my Schefflera a commercial plant food three or 4 times a year and change its soil every year or two. My experience has shown that this plant adapts to life indoors so well that it seems to resent being put outside. I have seen other Scheffleras thrive in the fluorescent light of offices just as well as under plant lights. I doubt if Schefflera is this finicky in Zones 10 and 11 where is grows outside year round.

© 1998 Michael King