Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Broadleaf Evergreen
Origin
Southern Africa
Southeastern Asia, China
Types
Carissa bispinosa, Carissa carandas
Schefflera actinophylla, Schefflera morototoni, Schefflera heptaphylla
Number of Varieties
203
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Coastal Regions, Tropical regions
Moist Soils
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-1110-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
-
Sunset Zone
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
21,22
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm243.84 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
60.00 cm182.88 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White
Red, Bronze
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Light Red
Orange, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Elliptic and Ovate
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Shade areas
-
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Vegetative Reproduction
Cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Water daily during growing season, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
Allow to dry out slightly between watering, Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Keep ground moist, Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune to control growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune ocassionally, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads
Fertilizers
fertilize in growing season, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize once a year
Pests and Diseases
Insects, Red blotch, Scale, Spider mites, Thripes, Whiteflies
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Shade areas
-
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
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Ants, Aphids, Birds, Bugs, Wildlife
Allergy
Toxic
breathing problems, Burning sensation, Difficulty swallowing, Poisonous, Swelling
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Cottage Garden, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion
Air purification, Indoor Air Purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Abdominal Disease, Arthritis, Bleeding, Kidney Stones, Muscle Pain, Recovering internal injuries, Rheumatism, Swelling, Upset stomach
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Fruits
Flowers, Root
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Container, Showy Purposes, Used for making hedge
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Container, Foundation, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Botanical Name
CARISSA macrocarpa
SCHEFFLERA arboricola
Common Name
Carissia
Umbrella plant
In Hindi
Carissa
Arboricola
Plant
In German
carissa
arboricola
Pflanze
In French
carissa
arboricola
Plante
In Spanish
carissa
arboricola
Planta
In Greek
carissa
Αρμπορικόλα
Φυτό
In Portuguese
carissa
arboricola
Plantar
In Polish
carissa
arboricola
Roślina
In Latin
carissa
arboricola
planta
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Vascular plant
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Gentianales
Apiales
Family
Apocynaceae
Araliaceae
Genus
Carissa
Schefflera
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Carisseae
-
Subfamily
Rauvolfioideae
Aralioideae
Number of Species
100150
1
27800
👆🏻