Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen, Grass
Tree
Origin
Mexico
Melanesia, Australia
Types
Otatea acuminata ssp. acuminata, Otatea acuminata ssp. aztecorum, Otatea acuminata 'Dwarf'
Umbrella plant
Amate
Number of Varieties
201000
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Subtropical climates, tropical environments
gardens, Homesteads, Roadsides, Tropical regions, Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-1210-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10 - 7
12-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 9, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 23, 24
Habit
Weeping
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
240.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm460.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
Red, Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Red, Purple
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Yellow green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Yellow green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Yellow green
Red, Purple
Shape
Leaf Shape
Long linear and narrow
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, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
-
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Divison
Seedlings, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Never Over-water
Do Not over Water, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Water occasionally
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune every year, Prune to control growth, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Requires high amount of nitrogen
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Mealybugs
Red blotch
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
Fine
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Mealybugs
Birds
Allergy
Skin irritation
Dermititis
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Windbreak
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Arthritis, Asthma, Headache, Rheumatoid arthritis, Stomach pain
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Root
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Screening / Wind Break, Street Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
OTATEA acuminata
SCHEFFLERA actinophylla
Common Name
Clumping Bamboo, Mexican Weeping Bamboo
Octopus Tree
In Hindi
मैक्सिकन बांस
ऑक्टोपस पेड़
In German
Mexican Bambus
Octopus tree
In French
Bamboo mexicaine
arbre Octopus
In Spanish
bambú mexicana
árbol pulpo
In Greek
Μεξικού μπαμπού
χταπόδι δέντρο
In Portuguese
Bamboo Mexican
Octopus árvore
In Polish
Mexican Bamboo
Ośmiornica drzewo
In Latin
Mexicanus Bamboo
polypus ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
-
Magnoliophyta
Class
-
Magnoliopsida
Order
Poales
Apiales
Family
Poaceae
Araliaceae
Genus
Otatea
Schefflera
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
Aralioideae
Number of Species
5515
1
27800
👆🏻