The illustrated growing guide
Schefflera (Umbrella Plant)
Schefflera arboricola
Family Araliaceae
Est. zones 9-11
The glossy umbrella-leaf plant that's easy except for one thing: spider mites love it, especially in dry winter air. Give it bright light or it stretches into a sparse mess. Pinch the tips and it bushes out; ignore it and it reaches for the ceiling.
Bright indirect — leggy and sparse in low light
Moderate water
Moderate-Fast growth
Deer-resistant
None winter chill
From the print shop
Growing schefflera (umbrella plant)? Hang it.
Our Houseplants Vol. 2 collection carries schefflera (umbrella plant) — Schefflera arboricola, print Nº 6, “Schefflera.”
16 designsfrom $21.99white or black groundmatte poster, unframed
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Overview
Will schefflera (umbrella plant) suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what schefflera (umbrella plant) actually needs.
Hardy inZones 9-11Schefflera (Umbrella Plant) at a glance
Common schefflera (umbrella plant) problems
- Spider Mites (the schefflera curse)
- Scale
- Mealybugs
- Root Rot
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Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow schefflera (umbrella plant): light, water & soil
How to plant & propagate schefflera (umbrella plant)
When to spray schefflera (umbrella plant)
Growing season. Shower it monthly to keep mites down.
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The year
What schefflera (umbrella plant) asks for, month by month.
The schefflera (umbrella plant) year, month by month
No fixed season calendar for schefflera (umbrella plant) — its care follows conditions, not the calendar.
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Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Schefflera (Umbrella Plant) in the garden system
What schefflera (umbrella plant) is grown for
⚠ Toxic if eatenToxic to cats/dogs (calcium oxalate)
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
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Cultivars
Named varieties of schefflera (umbrella plant), ruled as a catalogue.
Best schefflera (umbrella plant) varieties & cultivars
'Arboricola' (dwarf, glossy); 'Gold Capella' (variegated); big-leaf S. actinophylla (umbrella tree)
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Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to schefflera (umbrella plant)yet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
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Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Questions
Schefflera (Umbrella Plant) questions, answered straight.
Do deer eat schefflera (umbrella plant)?
Rarely — schefflera (umbrella plant) is considered deer-resistant, which makes it one of the safer unfenced choices in deer country. Hungry deer in a hard winter test every rule, but it's a low-risk pick.
Is schefflera (umbrella plant) safe for kids and pets?
No — treat it as toxic if eaten. Toxic to cats/dogs (calcium oxalate) Site it accordingly if children or pets roam the garden. This is general reference, not medical or veterinary advice — call a vet or poison control if something has actually been eaten.
How do you propagate schefflera (umbrella plant)?
Stem/leaf cuttings, division, or pups.
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Elsewhere
Where schefflera (umbrella plant) sits in the library.
Monstera
Golden Pothos
Snake Plant
Heartleaf Philodendron