Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
Melanesia, Australia
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
Umbrella plant
Amate
-
Number of Varieties
10001
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
gardens, Homesteads, Roadsides, Tropical regions, Woods
Dry Forest, Lowland
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1510-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
12-10
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
H1, H2
Habit
Upright/Erect
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
460.00 cm370.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Red, Pink
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Red, Purple
Yellow, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Purple
Olive
Shape
Leaf Shape
Elliptic
Pinnate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Drought, Salt, Variety of soil types
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Transplanting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Water occasionally
Average Water Needs, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, 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, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
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, slow-release fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Salt, Variety of soil types
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Dermititis
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Ground Cover
Beauty Benefits
-
Blood purifying
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Food for birds, Shadow Tree
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Arthritis, Asthma, Headache, Rheumatoid arthritis, Stomach pain
anti-inflammatory, Gout, Rheumatism, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Root
Fruits, Seeds, Wood
Other Uses
Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes
Used for its medicinal properties, Wood is used for ship building
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, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
SCHEFFLERA actinophylla
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
Octopus Tree
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
ऑक्टोपस पेड़
Holywood
In German
Octopus tree
Holywood
In French
arbre Octopus
Holywood
In Spanish
árbol pulpo
Holywood
In Greek
χταπόδι δέντρο
Holywood
In Portuguese
Octopus árvore
Holywood
In Polish
Ośmiornica drzewo
Holywood
In Latin
polypus ligno
Holywood
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Apiales
Sapindales
Family
Araliaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Genus
Schefflera
Guaiacum
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Aralioideae
Zygophylloideae
Number of Species
155
1
27800
👆🏻