Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Shrub
Origin
Melanesia, Australia
United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Mexico
Types
Umbrella plant
Amate
-
Number of Varieties
10002
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
gardens, Homesteads, Roadsides, Tropical regions, Woods
Cultivated Beds
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-158-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
11-7
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
H1, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
460.00 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Red, Pink
Red, Magenta, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Red, Purple
Brown, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Purple
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Elliptic
Arrowhead
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Transplanting
Seedlings
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
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, 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, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Apply 10-10-10 amount
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
-
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Hummingbirds
Allergy
Dermititis
Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Borders
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Arthritis, Asthma, Headache, Rheumatoid arthritis, Stomach pain
Antiemetic, Diuretic, Purgative, Tonic
Part of Plant Used
Root
Flowers, Leaves
Other Uses
Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes
Used as a general tonic, Used as a rat poison, Used as a vegetable
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Screening / Wind Break, Street Trees, Tropical
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
SCHEFFLERA actinophylla
ERYTHRINA herbacea
Common Name
Octopus Tree
Red cardinal, Cardinal spear
In Hindi
ऑक्टोपस पेड़
Red Cardinal
In German
Octopus tree
Red Cardinal
In French
arbre Octopus
Cardinal rouge
In Spanish
árbol pulpo
Cárdenas
In Greek
χταπόδι δέντρο
κόκκινο Καρδινάλιος
In Portuguese
Octopus árvore
Cardeal vermelho
In Polish
Ośmiornica drzewo
Red Cardinal
In Latin
polypus ligno
Cardinalis Rubrum
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Apiales
Fabales
Family
Araliaceae
Fabaceae
Genus
Schefflera
Erythrina
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Phaseoleae
Subfamily
Aralioideae
Faboideae
Number of Species
1510
1
27800
👆🏻