Schefflera actinophylla - Octopus Tree

The lush foliage on this houseplant is perfect for bringing a bundle of glossy green joy into your home. Known as the Octopus Tree thanks to the way its leaves grow, with several tear-shaped leaves growing from a central point on the end of each slim branch. Relatively easy to keep happy, this plant likes bright but indirect light, and will want watering when about half of its soil has dried out. Pop this in the corner of your living room for a bit of a statement, plenty of greenery, and not too much fuss.

Scientific Name
Heptapleurum actinophyllum (plant with seven sides of radiating leaves)

Synonyms: Schefflera actinophylla, Brassaia actinophylla, Brassaia singaporensis, Aralia longipes 

This plant was reclassified in 2020, following analysis finding that it was, in fact, a different genus to what was previously thought.

Common Name
Australian Umbrella Tree, Queensland Umbrella Tree, Octopus Tree, Australian Ivy Plant

Origin
Native to New Guinea and Northeastern Australia.

Light
Bright light is best - in spring and summer, it should be indirect; a splash or morning or evening sun will be helpful in winter, though, when there is much less light to be had.

Water
Let the top third of the soil dry between waters. This should mean there is always some moisture in the soil, whilst never letting your plant sit in a puddle. Your Octopus tree will need less water in winter, when it dries out more slowly.

Humidity
Your Octopus tree will cope well with lower humidity; make sure it's not right next to an operating radiator, and give it an occasional mist or hose down to hydrate the leaves when the air is particuarly dry.

Soil
A loose, well-draining but moisture-retentive mix is needed. Components like coir, perlite, bark and sand will give this balance; a mix designed for Ficus plants is perfect. Repot every two years as the plant grows, but make sure it's outgrown its pot - Octopus trees are fine if slightly potbound, and repotting can be risky for them.

Food
Feed every four waters in the growing season, reduce to every six or seven in autumn and winter. Pre-water the soil before applying 'ready to use' products to protect the roots.

Temperature
Average household temperatures of about 16-23°C are perfect - make sure it doesn't consistently drop below 10°C in winter.

Pet-safe
No, this plant is toxic to pets and small humans.

Sprouts Top Tips
Your Octupus Tree might take a while to get used to a new location. If it stops growing and loses a few leaves, wait it out; it should start growing new leaves after a few months. If it still isn't growing, or lots of its leaves get damaged, you may need to move it somewhere slightly better-suited.