Schefflera octophyllaIvy Tree

Schefflera octophylla is the umbrella-leaved evergreen that lines a great many streets in Hong Kong and Guangzhou. Palmate leaves of seven to nine glossy leaflets are carried on a fast, upright, multi-stemmed frame, and large panicles of small white flowers open in autumn when almost nothing else is out.

That late flowering makes it one of the most important nectar sources in southern China, and it gives the tree a season of interest at the far end of the year, which is useful.

Specifications

• Height5 to 15 metres
• Width4 to 8 metres
• Native toSouthern China, Taiwan, the Ryukyu Islands, Vietnam and northeastern India
• FoliagePalmately compound leaves with seven to nine glossy leaflets; evergreen
• Growth rateFast

Conditions

• SoilTolerates a wide range of free-draining soils, including shallow and rocky ground
• LightFull sun to partial shade
• WaterModerate; needs reliable moisture through establishment
• ClimateThrives in tropical and humid subtropical regions

Additional Features

• FlowersLarge panicles of small white flowers in autumn and early winter
• FruitSmall purple-black fruit following the flowers
• UsesStreet and park planting, screening, slope revegetation and courtyard specimens
• SpacingPlant 5 to 7 metres apart for street work, or 3 metres apart as a screen
• Low MaintenancePrune to establish a single leader where a street form is wanted; otherwise little work is needed
• Pest ResistanceGenerally sound in cultivation
• Wildlife AttractionThe autumn flowers are a major nectar source for bees, and birds take the fruit
• Seasonal AppealAutumn and early winter flowering, when very little else is in flower

The Ivy Tree is a fast evergreen street and park tree with a long track record in humid subtropical cities and an unusual flowering season.