Schefflera actinophylla is a tree in the Aralicaceae family. It is native to tropical rainforests and gallery forests in Australia (eastern Queensland and the Northern Territory, new Guinea and Java. Common names include Queensland umbrella tree, octopus tree and amate.
I can remember many years ago that it seemed every garden in Perth had one of these umbrella trees. There are still many to be seen in older suburbs and it is their beautiful red flowers that I have always admired. I understand they are considered a 'pest weed' in parts of Queensland.
Schefflera arboricola (syn. Heptapleurum arboicolum) is a flowering plant in the family Araliaceae, native to Taiwan as well as Hainan. It's common name is Dwarf Umbrella Tree, as it appears to be a smaller version of the Umbrella Tree Schefflera actinophylla.
We have two 'dwarf' umbrella trees, one in the front garden and one, outside my window here, in the back garden. It is currently covered with buds:
which very soon will burst into these tiny flowers:
Not very impressive perhaps, although when the tree is covered with them they look quite spectacular.
I bought both of my 'dwarf' umbrella trees to grow as pot plants but when they got bigger and bigger we decided they show be planted in the garden. Now they are as high as the house and the term 'dwarf' seems rather incongruous for such a big tree. They are very good natured and seem not to need a lot of water or care. You can prune them back and very quickly they will grow again until it is impossible to see where they were pruned.
When it comes to the "V" of flowers I feel I won't have quite as much difficulty as I did with "U".
Can you think of a flower beginning with "U" that perhaps I've not heard of. Would be interested to know what it is.
