Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Broadleaf Evergreen, Grass
Origin
Melanesia, Australia
Mexico
Types
Umbrella plant
Amate
Otatea acuminata ssp. acuminata, Otatea acuminata ssp. aztecorum, Otatea acuminata 'Dwarf'
Number of Varieties
100020
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
gardens, Homesteads, Roadsides, Tropical regions, Woods
Subtropical climates, tropical environments
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-159-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
10 - 7
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
H1, H2, 9, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Weeping
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm240.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
460.00 cm30.00 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
Green, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Green, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Purple
Green, Yellow green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Elliptic
Long linear and narrow
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
-
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Transplanting
Divison
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, Never Over-water
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
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, 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
Prune every year, Prune to control growth, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Requires high amount of nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Aphids, Mealybugs
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Mealybugs
Allergy
Dermititis
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Windbreak
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
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
SCHEFFLERA actinophylla
OTATEA acuminata
Common Name
Octopus Tree
Clumping Bamboo, Mexican Weeping Bamboo
In Hindi
ऑक्टोपस पेड़
मैक्सिकन बांस
In German
Octopus tree
Mexican Bambus
In French
arbre Octopus
Bamboo mexicaine
In Spanish
árbol pulpo
bambú mexicana
In Greek
χταπόδι δέντρο
Μεξικού μπαμπού
In Portuguese
Octopus árvore
Bamboo Mexican
In Polish
Ośmiornica drzewo
Mexican Bamboo
In Latin
polypus ligno
Mexicanus Bamboo
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
-
Class
Magnoliopsida
-
Order
Apiales
Poales
Family
Araliaceae
Poaceae
Genus
Schefflera
Otatea
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Aralioideae
-
Number of Species
1555
1
27800
👆🏻