Dwarf Umbrella Tree
Heptapleurum arboricola
An evergreen shrub featuring distinctive palmately compound leaves arranged in whorls around the stems, with glossy, oval leaflets.
- Light
- Bright, indirect light for 6 to 8 hours daily; can tolerate partial shade but grows more compactly with adequate light.
- Water
- Water thoroughly when the top layer of soil becomes dry to the touch. Reduce watering during the winter months. Avoid letting the pot sit in standing water to prevent root rot.
- Growth
- Perennial evergreen shrub or small tree, growing indoors up to 3 to 6 feet tall with a dense, branching form.
Care instructions
Provide bright, indirect sunlight, water when the top two inches of soil are dry, and use a well-draining potting mix. Feed monthly during the growing season with a balanced liquid fertilizer.
Growing details
Sunlight
Bright, indirect light for 6 to 8 hours daily; can tolerate partial shade but grows more compactly with adequate light.
Watering
Water thoroughly when the top layer of soil becomes dry to the touch. Reduce watering during the winter months. Avoid letting the pot sit in standing water to prevent root rot.
Soil
Well-draining, rich loamy potting soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH range of 6.0 to 6.5.
Hardiness zone
USDA zones 10 through 12, typically grown as a container houseplant in cooler regions.
Growth habit
Perennial evergreen shrub or small tree, growing indoors up to 3 to 6 feet tall with a dense, branching form.
Bloom season
Rarely blooms indoors; when mature outdoors, produces small greenish-white flowers arranged in panicles followed by small, round fruits.
Propagation
Propagated easily using stem cuttings placed in moist propagation medium or by air layering during the spring and summer months.
Common pests & issues
Susceptible to spider mites, mealybugs, and scale insects, especially in dry indoor air. Root rot can occur from overwatering or poorly draining soil.
Similar species
Schefflera actinophylla (Octopus Tree), which features much larger leaflets and taller growth habit.