Dwarf umbrella tree is an evergreen flowering shrub in the ginseng family (Araliaceae) native to China and Taiwan. Although the dwarf umbrella tree may grow 10-15 feet tall when planted outside in South Florida, this tropical plant can be grown indoors and will only get from 4 to 6 feet high and wide in a container. It should be placed in a southern, western, or eastern exposure with filtered light (eg. sheer curtain) for 3 to 4 hours daily. While it can tolerate some full sun outdoors, as a houseplant, bright, direct light will burn the leaves. Allow the soil to dry out and then thoroughly soak it with water. This plant likes high humidity and a well-drained potting medium rich in organic matter. The humidity around the plant can be raised by placing the container on a tray of wet pebbles (the water line should be below the surface of the pebbles so that the pot is not sitting directly in water). The dwarf umbrella tree will rarely produce flowers when grown indoors but can safely be put outside in a sheltered location when temperatures will not dip below 60 degrees. The dwarf umbrella may used as an indoor potted plant. In areas where the plant is winter hardy, consider using the plant as a specimen, accent, or hedge. All parts of this plant are seriously toxic to dogs and cats. Quick ID HInts: evergreen shrub or small tree growing 10 to 25 feet tall when grown in tropical areas 3 to 6 feet tall, smaller ornamental when grown as a houseplant the leaves are evergreen, glossy, compound, palmate and arranged in a circle on the leafstalks. each leaf has 7 to 9 leaflets that are obovate, oblong, to elliptic tiny red flowers appear in compound panicles small round orange drupes become black when mature Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Red spider mites, mealybugs and scale can be a serious problem. If the soil is too wet or too dry the leave will drop off. No serious disease problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Mature size
Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in. | Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Irregular; Rounded; Vase
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green; Variegated; White
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Oblong; Obovate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are comprised of 7 to 9 individual leaflets, arranged in a circle like spokes of an umbrella. Leaflets are 2-4.5 inches long in terminal rosettes. They are obovate, entire, obtuse, stalked, and bright green and glossy.
Flower color
Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower detail
The flowers bloom during the summer and are tiny red blooms that appear in compound panicles. Indoor typically do not flower.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Black; Orange
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The fruits are round, orange drupes about 1/4 inch in diameter that become black when matured.
Stem color
Green
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Taiwan and Hainan Province
Distribution
Bermuda, Florida, Hawaii, Jamaica, Nansei-shoto
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Drupe
Uses (ethnobotany)
The plant has been used as a medicine and has had environmental and social uses also.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Houseplants; Patio
Landscape theme
Drought Tolerant Garden
Design feature
Accent; Hedge; Small Tree; Specimen
Garden tags
#interiorscape #houseplant #showy leaves #small tree #tropical evergreen #indoor tree #woody #moist soil #drought tolerant #salt tolerant #well-drained soil #evergreen #partial shade tolerant #container plant #shade garden #variegated #patio #problem for dogs #problem for cats #fpp
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Mealybugs Found on Flowers and Foliage; Soft Scale Identification and Management on Ornamental Plants; Armored Scale Identification and Management on Ornamental Plants; Banded Greenhouse Thrips
Problems
Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs
Resistant to
Drought; Salt
Propagation
Seed; Stem Cutting
Poison severity
Low
Poison parts
Leaves; Sap/Juice
Poison symptoms
It is harmful to cats and dogs if leaves are chewed. Intense mouth and throat irritation results in excessive drooling, difficulty swallowing, and vomiting. Sap can be irritating to people with sensitive skin. Use gloves as a precaution.