Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Grass
Origin
Melanesia, Australia
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Canada, Mexico
Types
Umbrella plant
Amate
Sorghastrum nutans
Number of Varieties
10003
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
gardens, Homesteads, Roadsides, Tropical regions, Woods
Grassland, low mountains, Semi desert, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-154-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
9 - 1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
460.00 cm45.70 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Red, Pink
-
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Red, Purple
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Light Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Blue Green, Burgundy, Copper
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Purple
Tan
Shape
Leaf Shape
Elliptic
Linear
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Average
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Drought, Salt
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
Average Water Needs
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Requires very little pruning
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
No fertilizers needed
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Insects
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought and Salt
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Birds
Allergy
Dermititis
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Arthritis, Asthma, Headache, Rheumatoid arthritis, Stomach pain
-
Part of Plant Used
Root
Whole plant
Other Uses
Employed in herbal medicine, 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
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Wildflower
Botanical Name
SCHEFFLERA actinophylla
SORGHASTRUM nutans
Common Name
Octopus Tree
Indian Grass
In Hindi
ऑक्टोपस पेड़
भारतीय घास
In German
Octopus tree
Indian Grass
In French
arbre Octopus
Herbe indienne
In Spanish
árbol pulpo
Hierba india
In Greek
χταπόδι δέντρο
Ινδικό Grass
In Portuguese
Octopus árvore
grama indianas
In Polish
Ośmiornica drzewo
Indyjski Trawa
In Latin
polypus ligno
Indian Grass
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Apiales
Poales
Family
Araliaceae
Poaceae
Genus
Schefflera
Sorghastrum
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Aralioideae
-
Number of Species
159
1
27800
👆🏻