Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Cactus or Succulent
Origin
Melanesia, Australia
Southern Africa
Types
Umbrella plant
Amate
Hoodia albispina, Hoodia flava, Hoodia bainii
Number of Varieties
100025
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
gardens, Homesteads, Roadsides, Tropical regions, Woods
Desert
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1512-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
12-10
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-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
Red, Pink, Tan
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Red, Purple
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Blue Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
-
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Purple
Blue Green, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Elliptic
-
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Slow
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
Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Transplanting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Water occasionally
Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Average Water
In Winter
Average Water
Once a week
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
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
No pruning needed in the early stages
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
No fertilizers needed
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Full Sun, Shade areas
Flowers
Showy
Showy
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
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Flies, Insects
Allergy
Dermititis
Dry Mouth
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
-
Weightloss
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Food for insects
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Arthritis, Asthma, Headache, Rheumatoid arthritis, Stomach pain
Weight loss
Part of Plant Used
Root
Stem
Other Uses
Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes
Can be made into a herbal tea, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Screening / Wind Break, Street Trees, Tropical
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
SCHEFFLERA actinophylla
Hoodia gordonii
Common Name
Octopus Tree
ǁhoba, Ghaap
In Hindi
ऑक्टोपस पेड़
Hoodia
In German
Octopus tree
Hoodia
In French
arbre Octopus
Hoodia
In Spanish
árbol pulpo
Hoodia
In Greek
χταπόδι δέντρο
Hoodia
In Portuguese
Octopus árvore
Hoodia
In Polish
Ośmiornica drzewo
Hoodia
In Latin
polypus ligno
Hoodia
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Apiales
Gentianales
Family
Araliaceae
Apocynaceae
Genus
Schefflera
Hoodia
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Stapeliae
Subfamily
Aralioideae
Asclepiadoideae
Number of Species
1525
1
27800
👆🏻