Schefflera elegantissima (False Aralia, Black Aralia, Petit Boux Caledonien, Spider Plant, Threadleaf False Aralia)
Botanical Information
| Family | Araliaceae |
| Genus | Schefflera |
| Species | elegantissima |
| Synonyms | Aralia elegantissima, Dizygotheca elegantissima |
| Category | Tropicals |
| Type | Shrub (evergreen) |
| Origin | New Caledonia. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 10 - 12 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | Requires cold season protection under glass. |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H1b - H3 |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | -5 - 15 |
| Temperature (°F) | 23 - 59 |
| Height | 7.5 - 15 m |
| Spread | 3 - 4.5 m |
| Growth | Medium |
| Flowering Period | January, February, October, November, December |
Description and Growing Information
| Landscape | Low-maintenance indoor potted plant. |
| Cultivation | Grows best in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil. Water regularly, but reduce watering in autumn and winter. Flowers and fruit rarely appear on indoor plants. |
| Pests | Mealybugs, aphids, spider mites, thrips and scale. |
| Notable Specimens | Centennial Conservatory, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. |
| Habitat | Rainforests. |
| Leaf Description | Juvenile plants have narrow, 1.25 cm wide, toothed leaflets up to 7.5 cm long. Mature plants have leaflets 7.5 cm wide and up to 30 cm long. |
| Flower Description | Small, growing in clusters. |
| Fruit Description | Globose. |
| Colour Description | Leaves are dark green on top, and coppery green on the underside. Flowers are yellow-green. Fruit is black. |
Photographs
Schefflera elegantissima, Form.
Schefflera elegantissima, Leaf.