Photo: DarkNight0917 / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Dwarf umbrella tree

Schefflera arboricola

A glossy, many-fingered floor plant that is happy in filtered light and an ordinary living room. Red spider mites find it in hot, dry AC air, and it is toxic to cats and dogs.

Mature size0.3–1.8 m tall, 0.4–1 m spreadGrowthModerateSunPart shadeWaterModerate

Drought: 2 of 5

Shade: 4 of 5

Ease of care: 4 of 5

Use in a design Get it looked after

Indoors in Dubai

Dwarf umbrella tree indoors

Light it grows well in

Low (does not suit it)
Medium (suits it)
Bright (suits it)
Sun (does not suit it)

Filtered light suits it: a metre or two from a window behind tinted glass, or by sheer curtains. Hot afternoon sun on west glass scorches the leaves, so pull it back there in summer.

Dry, air-conditioned air

3 of 5

1 means it needs humidity help, 5 means it does not mind.

Under air conditioning: Hot, dry AC air favours red spider mites, so check under the leaves monthly and rinse them. Keep it out of the vent airflow; soil that is too wet or too dry makes it drop leaves.

Cats and dogs

Not pet-safe

Toxic to dogs and cats, according to the ASPCA (listed as Schefflera): calcium oxalate crystals cause oral irritation, intense burning of the mouth, lips and tongue, excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing if chewed. If your pet has eaten any, call your vet.

Size: Floor-standingStands on its own on the floor
Rooms: Living room Hallway Home office Majlis
In Dubai shops: Easy to findMost garden centres and supermarkets
Outdoors: Indoors only

All indoor plants for Dubai More plants for medium light

Season

Through the Dubai year

How Dwarf umbrella tree behaves through Dubai's seasons, month by month.

JJan

FFeb

MMar

AApr

MMay

JJun

JJul

AAug

SSep

OOct

NNov

DDec

Avg high °C

24°

26°

29°

34°

38°

40°

42°

40°

36°

31°

27°

Buy and pot up

Feb – Apr

Main growing season

Mar – Oct

Monthly feed

Apr – Oct

Cut back leggy stems

Check for spider mites

Apr – Sep

Hot glass and dry air

Jun – Sep

Growth slows

Buy and pot up: Feb–Apr, Oct–Nov
Autumn and spring, when a nursery plant is not carried home through 45°C heat.
Main growing season: Mar–Oct
The RHS says to water moderately while it grows.
Monthly feed: Apr–Oct
A balanced liquid feed while it is actively growing (RHS).
Cut back leggy stems: Mar–Apr
Spring is a good time; stem cuttings also root (NC State).
Check for spider mites: Apr–Sep
Look under the leaves for fine speckling and webbing; mealybugs and scale also visit.
Hot glass and dry air: Jun–Sep
Pull it back from west glass and keep it out of the vent airflow.
Growth slows: Dec–Feb
Water sparingly (RHS) and test the soil before each drink.

The dwarf umbrella tree stays evergreen all year, so its calendar is about growth and pests, not appearance. From about March to October it is in growth: that is when to feed monthly (RHS) and when to look under the leaves for mites, which favour hot, dry sites. In June to September, keep it back from hot west glass and clear of the AC vent. From December to February growth slows, so water sparingly (RHS), still testing the soil first, since too wet and too dry both drop leaves.

Meet the plant

Meet the Dwarf umbrella tree

Meet the dwarf umbrella tree, the glossy, easy-going floor plant that Dubai shops stock in sizes from a desk pot to a tall corner specimen. Each leaf is a ring of shiny leaflets that fans out from one stalk like the ribs of an umbrella. NC State puts a houseplant at about 1.2 to 1.8 metres, while the same species reaches 3 to 7.5 metres outdoors in warm climates, so it has plenty of room to grow.

It asks for filtered light, not strong sun. NC State recommends the kind of light that comes through a sheer curtain for three to four hours a day, and warns that bright, direct light burns the leaves. That makes it a natural match for a room behind tinted glass, where a bare, sun-soaked window would be too much. It also tolerates partial to deep shade.

What goes wrong is predictable. Soil that is too wet or too dry makes it drop leaves, and hot, dry air invites red spider mites, which NC State lists with mealybugs and scale as a serious problem. Look under the leaves once a month and it will mostly look after itself.

The dwarf umbrella tree (Schefflera arboricola, which NC State now classes as Heptapleurum arboricola) is an evergreen from the ginseng family, Araliaceae. Each leaf is a ring of seven to nine glossy leaflets, and a potted plant usually reaches about 1.2 to 1.8 metres, against 3 to 7.5 metres outdoors in warm climates. It rarely flowers indoors, so you grow it for the foliage.

NC State recommends filtered light, such as through a sheer curtain, for three to four hours a day, and says bright, direct light burns the leaves; the RHS likewise asks for bright, indirect light. It tolerates partial to deep shade. Allow the soil to dry out, then soak it thoroughly, in a free-draining mix rich in organic matter. NC State says leaf drop follows soil that stays too wet or becomes too dry.

NC State says it likes high humidity, and a tray of wet pebbles helps. Dry, air-conditioned rooms are where its pests turn up: Colorado State Extension says plants in very hot, dry sites are prone to spider mites, and that washing the leaves and raising humidity are the most effective controls. Keep it out of the vent airflow, and check under the leaves monthly for mites, mealybugs and scale.

The RHS suggests feeding monthly while it is growing, watering moderately in the growing season and sparingly in winter. The ASPCA lists it as toxic to cats and dogs, and NC State notes that the sap can irritate sensitive skin.

Design

Where to use it

Floor plant for a living-room cornerHallway or entrance plantHome-office cornerBackdrop for smaller plants

A 0.9 to 1.2 metre plant, the usual floor size in Dubai garden centres, suits a living-room corner or hallway that gets filtered light: set it a metre or two back from a window behind tinted glass, or beside one with sheer curtains. Its rounded, many-leaflet outline softens a hard corner or sideboard. Keep it clear of hot afternoon sun on west glass and out of the AC airflow, and use a heavy pot so a tall plant does not tip.

Snake plant

Snake plant's stiff, upright blades contrast with the umbrella tree's rounded leaflets, and both are comfortable a little back from the window.

Areca palm

An areca palm's arching, feathery fronds give a fine-textured contrast to the umbrella tree's glossy, hand-shaped leaves in the same bright, indirect corner.

ZZ plant

ZZ plant's glossy, upright stems sit well at the foot of a larger umbrella tree and take the dimmer spot in front of it.

Care guide

How to grow it in Dubai

Watering: Summer: Allow the soil to dry out, then soak it thoroughly and let it drain (NC State). Test with a finger about two inches down; how often that is depends on the pot, the room and the season. Flush the pot every four to six months with at least twice its volume of water to wash out salts (University of Maryland).
Winter: Water sparingly as growth slows (RHS), and still test the soil first: too wet or too dry both make it drop leaves (NC State).
Soil: A free-draining potting mix rich in organic matter (NC State); the RHS suggests a peat-free houseplant compost that is moist but well drained. Use a pot with drainage holes.
Feeding: Feed monthly with a balanced liquid fertiliser while it is actively growing (RHS), roughly April to October. Skip winter.
Pruning: Cut leggy stems back in spring to keep it bushy; cuttings root readily (NC State). Wipe dusty leaves with a damp cloth.
Planting: Repot in spring when roots fill the pot, moving up one pot size. The best months to buy are October to November and February to April, when a nursery plant is not driven home through summer heat.
Pests: Red spider mitesMealybugsScale insects

Avoid these

Common mistakes

Putting it in bright, direct sun to speed it up. NC State says direct light burns the leaves; a spot behind tinted glass or a sheer curtain suits it better.
Watering on a schedule. Soil that stays too wet or gets too dry both drop leaves, so test two inches down before each drink.
Never looking under the leaves. Red spider mites show as fine speckling and webbing in hot, dry rooms; wash the leaves and raise humidity at the first sign (Colorado State Extension).
Parking it next to the AC vent. The cold, dry stream dries the foliage and favours mites, so move it out of the direct airflow.
Leaving it where a pet can chew it. The ASPCA lists schefflera as toxic to cats and dogs.

Extra notes

Good to know

Botanists have moved it from Schefflera to Heptapleurum, and NC State uses the new name, but shops and the ASPCA still say Schefflera, so search both.
The ASPCA lists it as toxic to dogs and cats because of calcium oxalate crystals; NC State adds that the sap can irritate sensitive skin.
NC State says it will rarely flower when grown indoors, so the foliage is the whole show.
Prices seen on 7 October 2026: Acacia Garden Center lists a 0.9 to 1.2 metre floor plant from AED 135, and Plantsworld lists 30 to 40 cm plants from AED 37 with larger sizes up to 120 cm. Sizes and prices change, so check the shop.

Toxicity: Toxic to dogs and cats, according to the ASPCA (listed as Schefflera): calcium oxalate crystals cause oral irritation, intense burning of the mouth, lips and tongue, excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing if chewed. If your pet has eaten any, call your vet.

Pros

Glossy, many-leaflet foliage stays handsome all year in filtered light
Tolerates partial to deep shade, so it suits a room behind tinted glass
Sold from 30 cm desk plants to 1.2 m floor plants, at a wide range of prices
Simple routine: let the soil dry out, then soak it thoroughly

Cons

Red spider mites, mealybugs and scale can be a serious problem (NC State)
Toxic to cats and dogs if chewed (ASPCA)
Drops leaves if the soil stays too wet or gets too dry
Direct sun burns the leaves, including hot afternoon sun through glass

FAQ

Common questions

Can a dwarf umbrella tree live in low light?

It tolerates partial to deep shade (NC State), but NC State recommends filtered light for three to four hours a day. Behind tinted glass, a spot close to the window is better than the back of the room.

Why is my umbrella tree dropping leaves?

NC State links leaf drop to soil that is too wet or too dry. Check two inches down before watering, make sure the pot drains, keep it out of cold vent air, and look under the leaves for spider mites, mealybugs and scale.

Is dwarf umbrella tree safe around cats and dogs?

No. The ASPCA lists schefflera as toxic to both. Chewing the leaves causes mouth irritation, drooling and vomiting, so keep it out of reach.

How big does it get indoors?

NC State gives about 1.2 to 1.8 metres as a houseplant, though the RHS gives a smaller 0.5 to 1 metre. In Dubai shops you will find everything from 30 cm desk plants to 1.2 metre floor plants.

How do I get rid of spider mites on it?

Colorado State Extension says the most effective controls are washing the plant and increasing humidity around it. Spray the leaves, tops and undersides, repeatedly over several weeks, isolate the plant and move it away from the AC vent.

When is the best time to buy one in Dubai?

October to November and February to April, when a nursery plant is not driven home through summer heat. A hot car is hard on any houseplant, and a change of conditions is a common cause of leaf drop.

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