Re: Schefflera Schweethearts
- Subject: Re: Schefflera Schweethearts
- From: d* f*
- Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2001 16:56:09 -0700 (PDT)
Of the more commonly grown Schefflera species here in
California, the S. arboricola, in both straight green
and variegated forms is by far the hardiest, surviving
without overhead cover while S. actinophylla, a far
larger growing plant, will usually get damaged in
winter, and is generally only grown outdoors as a
landscape plant is southern California, and then only
in the milder areas. S. arboricola is much shrubbier,
branching on its own, and is easily propagated from
cuttings. S. actinophylla is not inclined to branch
on its own, and will grow 15 to 20 feet tall with no
branching, although it will send up new shoots from
the base, and is easier to propagate by air layering.
I have never seen either species bloom in northern
California, and I would guess this has to do with lack
of summer heat laod in the milder coastal areas where
it is winter hardy.
Another Aralia family member which is also fairly
hardy here in northern California, and much used in
southern California, is Tupidanthus calyptratus, which
has been renamed. This one will attempt to bloom here
in northern California, but as it is a winter bloomer,
it is often retarded from blooming the first season,
and my own plant is finally exhibiting signs that the
flower buds may expand and open this year, after
essentialy doing nothing since last November. It
could be a ruse, however, as it has threatened to
bloom in years past, but failed...
My personal experience with S. arboricola and
Tupidanthus calyptratus is that they will return from
the roots after a freeze of 25F, and if old enough,
some of the more woody trunks will also survive to
regrow. They are certainly easy enough to grow
without summer heat, and don't seem to mind winter
lows down into the 30's, if planted in somewhat
protected spots. They tend to put on good growth once
night time lows are above 50F. Neither do they insist
on high humidity to grow, but have larger, more
luxuriant leaves with regular garden water and fertile
soils. Many of the Schefflera species grow
epiphyticaly in their native habitat, which they are
disinclined to do with our ambient humidity and
seasonal mediterannean rainfall patterns here in
California.
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