Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Perennial, Shrub
Origin
Melanesia, Australia
Northwestern United States, Canada
Types
Umbrella plant
Amate
sharpleaf penstemon, white-margined beardtongue, lowland beardtongue
Habitat
gardens, Homesteads, Roadsides, Tropical regions, Woods
foothill woods, High elevation, Open areas, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
4-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15
Habit
Upright/Erect
Mat-forming
Flower Color
Red, Pink
Purple
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Red, Purple
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Purple
Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Elliptic
Narrow and lance shape
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
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
Late Spring, Early Summer
Tolerances
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Transplanting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Water occasionally
Needs less watering, Requires regular watering, Water occasionally
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
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
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
Birds
Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Allergy
Dermititis
Asthma, Pollen
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Wildlife
Medicinal Uses
Arthritis, Asthma, Headache, Rheumatoid arthritis, Stomach pain
Recovering internal injuries, Wounds
Part of Plant Used
Root
Flowers
Other Uses
Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes
Container, Used as Ornamental plant, Veterinarian uses
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Screening / Wind Break, Street Trees, Tropical
Alpine, Container, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
SCHEFFLERA actinophylla
PENSTEMON fruticosus 'Purple Haze'
Common Name
Octopus Tree
Bush Penstemon, Shrubby Penstemon
In Hindi
ऑक्टोपस पेड़
Bush Penstemon
In German
Octopus tree
Bush Penstemon
In French
arbre Octopus
Bush Penstemon
In Spanish
árbol pulpo
Bush Penstemon
In Greek
χταπόδι δέντρο
Μπους Penstemon
In Portuguese
Octopus árvore
Bush, Penstemon
In Polish
Ośmiornica drzewo
Bush Penstemon
In Latin
polypus ligno
Persicaria Bush
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Apiales
Scrophulariales
Family
Araliaceae
Scrophulariaceae
Genus
Schefflera
Penstemon
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Importance of Octopus Tree and Bush Penstemon
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Octopus Tree and Bush Penstemon. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Octopus Tree and Bush Penstemon as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Octopus Tree is Arthritis, Asthma, Headache, Rheumatoid arthritis and Stomach pain whereas of Bush Penstemon is Recovering internal injuries and Wounds. Octopus Tree has beauty benefits as follows: while Bush Penstemon has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Octopus Tree vs Bush Penstemon
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Octopus Tree vs Bush Penstemon and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Octopus Tree are Dermititis whereas of Bush Penstemon have Asthma and Pollen respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Octopus Tree has showy fruits and Bush Penstemon has no showy fruits. Also Octopus Tree is not flowering and Bush Penstemon is not flowering . You can compare Octopus Tree and Bush Penstemon facts and facts of other plants too.