Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tender Perennial
Origin
Melanesia, Australia
-
Types
Umbrella plant
Amate
Alternanthera reineckii
Alternanthera sessilis
Alternanthera philoxeroides
Alternanthera bettzickiana
Alternanthera caracasana
Number of Varieties
1000400
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
gardens, Homesteads, Roadsides, Tropical regions, Woods
Grassland
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-159-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
12-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
H1, H2
Habit
Upright/Erect
Cushion/Mound-forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm30.50 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
460.00 cm30.50 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Red, Pink
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Red, Purple
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Purple
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Shape
Leaf Shape
Elliptic
Round
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Transplanting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Water occasionally
Requires regular watering, Water Deeply
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
-
Allergy
Dermititis
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Arthritis, Asthma, Headache, Rheumatoid arthritis, Stomach pain
Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, Antioxidants
Part of Plant Used
Root
Whole plant
Other Uses
Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Screening / Wind Break, Street Trees, Tropical
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Hanging Basket, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
SCHEFFLERA actinophylla
ALTERNANTHERA 'Raspberry Rum'
Common Name
Octopus Tree
Alternanthera
In Hindi
ऑक्टोपस पेड़
Gudrisag, Garundi
In German
Octopus tree
Alternanthera
In French
arbre Octopus
Alternanthera
In Spanish
árbol pulpo
Alternanthera
In Greek
χταπόδι δέντρο
Alternanthera
In Portuguese
Octopus árvore
Alternanthera
In Polish
Ośmiornica drzewo
Alternanthera
In Latin
polypus ligno
Alternanthera
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Apiales
Caryophyllales
Family
Araliaceae
Amaranthaceae
Genus
Schefflera
Alternanthera
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Aralioideae
Gomphrenoideae
Number of Species
1527
1
27800
👆🏻