Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tree
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Melanesia, Australia
Types
-
Umbrella plant
Amate
Number of Varieties
501000
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
agricultural areas, Loamy soils, Warmer regions
gardens, Homesteads, Roadsides, Tropical regions, Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1510-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
12-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 23, 24
Habit
Spreading
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
60.00 cm460.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Fuchsia
Red, Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Red, Purple
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Red, Purple
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oval Cordate
Elliptic
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions, Soil Compaction, Sun
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Seedlings, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do not let dry out between waterings, Do not water the foliage
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
Loam
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
A hard prune may be necessary if the plant becomes woody, Cut upper 1/3 section when young to enhancegrowth
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Fertilize every three months
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Bacteria, Birds, Fungal Diseases, Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions, Full Sun, Salt and Soil Compaction
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
Fine
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Beetles, Bugs, Insects
Birds
Allergy
Acidic, allergic conjunctivitis
Dermititis
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Hanging Basket, Landscape Designing
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Makes Hair Silkier, Making cosmetics
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Forms dense stands, Provides ground cover, soil stabilisation
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Arthritis, Asthma, Headache, Rheumatoid arthritis, Stomach pain
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Root
Other Uses
Air freshner, Cosmetics, Showy Purposes
Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Groundcover, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Screening / Wind Break, Street Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
HETEROCENTRON elegans
SCHEFFLERA actinophylla
Common Name
Spanish Shawl
Octopus Tree
In Hindi
Heterocentron
ऑक्टोपस पेड़
In German
Heterocentron
Octopus tree
In French
Heterocentron
arbre Octopus
In Spanish
Heterocentron
árbol pulpo
In Greek
Heterocentron
χταπόδι δέντρο
In Portuguese
Heterocentron
Octopus árvore
In Polish
Heterocentron
Ośmiornica drzewo
In Latin
Heterocentron
polypus ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Myrtales
Apiales
Family
Melastomataceae
Araliaceae
Genus
Heterocentron
Schefflera
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Abreae
-
Subfamily
-
Aralioideae
Number of Species
20015
1
27800
👆🏻