Greetings from the world of foliage! We are the Schefflera genus, beloved for our elegant, hand-like leaves. You are considering two of our most popular representatives: Schefflera arboricola (the Dwarf Umbrella Tree) and Schefflera actinophylla (the Queensland Umbrella Tree or Octopus Tree). While we share a family name and a general leaf shape, our needs, growth habits, and ideal living situations are quite distinct. Choosing between us depends heavily on the environment you can provide. Let us explain our differences from a botanical perspective.
The most significant difference lies in our ultimate size and growth pattern. I, Schefflera actinophylla, am a true tree in my native habitats of Australia and New Guinea. When planted outdoors in frost-free climates, I can soar to 40 or even 50 feet tall, with a single, dominant trunk. My common name, Octopus Tree, comes from my spectacular flower spikes that radiate outwards like tentacles. Indoors, I will still aspire to grandeur, quickly reaching for the ceiling and requiring significant vertical space.
In contrast, I, Schefflera arboricola, am a more modest shrub or vine. My natural growth form is bushier and much smaller, typically maturing at 10 to 15 feet outdoors, and I often have multiple stems. As a houseplant, I am far more manageable, usually staying between 3 to 6 feet tall with pruning. My growth habit is inherently more compact and better suited to life on a table or floor indoors without immediately threatening your ceiling.
At a glance, our leaves appear similar—both are palmate, meaning the leaflets radiate from a central point like fingers from a palm. However, a closer inspection reveals key distinctions. My leaves (S. actinophylla) are larger and glossier. Each leaf is composed of fewer leaflets, typically 7 to 16, but each leaflet can be up to 12 inches long. They are a deep, uniform green with a leathery texture.
My foliage (S. arboricola) is smaller and more delicate. My leaflets are smaller, usually 1 to 4 inches long, and each leaf has a greater number of them, ranging from 7 to 9 on younger plants to up to 16 on mature specimens. While I have a solid green form, I am famous for my variegated cultivars, which display beautiful splashes of creamy yellow or gold across the leaves, adding a bright, cheerful element to your space.
Our care requirements, while similar, have nuances that affect our hardiness. Both of us prefer bright, indirect light. However, I (S. arboricola) am notably more tolerant of lower light conditions than my larger cousin. I can adapt to a wider range of indoor environments, though my growth will slow. I am also generally more forgiving of occasional lapses in watering.
I (S. actinophylla) am more demanding. I require consistently bright, filtered light to thrive and maintain my robust form. Without it, I become leggy as I stretch desperately for sunlight. I am also less tolerant of cold drafts and prefer warmer, more stable temperatures. When stressed, both of us may drop leaves, but I am quicker to show my displeasure with changes in my environment.
So, which of us is right for you? If you have a vast, bright space like an atrium, a sunroom, or a room with very high ceilings, and you desire a large, dramatic, tree-like focal point, then Schefflera actinophylla is a magnificent choice. Be prepared to accommodate its potential size and provide ample light.
If your space is more typical—a living room, bedroom, or office—then Schefflera arboricola is the far more practical and versatile selection. Its smaller size, bushier habit, and greater tolerance for variable light conditions make it a resilient and attractive houseplant. Its variegated forms are particularly useful for brightening up a room. For most indoor gardeners, I am the more suitable companion.
