Plant guide
Schefflera
Heptapleurum arboricola
Dwarf umbrella plant (Heptapleurum arboricola) is considered toxic to cats. Chewing it can irritate the mouth and may cause drooling, vomiting or trouble swallowing. Contact your veterinarian promptly if your cat may have eaten it.
What this guide covers: This guide covers Heptapleurum arboricola, also known scientifically as Schefflera arboricola. It does not cover every umbrella plant.
Photo:
Photo details
Schefflera arboricola, vrugte, a, Pretoria.jpg
By JMK
License: CC BY-SA 3.0
Resized and converted to WebP for display; botanical details unchanged.
This displayed image is shared under the same CC BY-SA 3.0 license.
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Photo:
Photo details
Schefflera arboricola, vrugte, a, Pretoria.jpg
By JMK
License: CC BY-SA 3.0
Resized and converted to WebP for display; botanical details unchanged.
This displayed image is shared under the same CC BY-SA 3.0 license.
Dwarf umbrella tree
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Keep away from cats. We do not recommend this plant for a home where cats could reach it.
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Look for Heptapleurum arboricola and check the selected variety. Listings and availability can change.
Plant identity
- Scientific name
- Heptapleurum arboricola
- Scope
- Species
- Family
- Araliaceae
- Also known as
- No reviewed aliases available
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How to grow this plant
Container growing guidance for Heptapleurum arboricola.
- Light
- Bright indirect light
Choose bright, filtered light.
- Watering
- Let the mix dry
Let the mix dry between waterings, while avoiding prolonged extremes of wetness or drought.
- Temperature
- Temperature range not yet established
A normal indoor growing range has not been established in this review.
- Humidity
- Higher humidity
Benefits from high humidity.
- Potting
- Use an organic, well-drained potting mix.
Growing-guide sources
- heptapleurum arboricola - Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗NC State Extension · Accessed 2026-10-13
Care guidance for the named taxon; indoor recommendations take precedence over outdoor hardiness information.
Growing advice reviewed 2026-10-14. Plant safety is assessed separately.
Reviewed safety information
- Toxic principle
- Oxalate crystals; other compounds are described in the veterinary source.
- Reported signs
- Mouth irritation; Drooling; Vomiting; Difficulty swallowing
- Severity
- Severity not established
Missing information is unknown. It should not be interpreted as an absence of risk.
Safe alternatives
No verified alternative recommendations are available for this guide.
Sources & review
- CliniTox — Schefflera, explicitly including S. arboricola ↗University of Zurich, Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology · Accessed
Listed by the source as Schefflera arboricola. The veterinary entry explicitly lists Schefflera arboricola among its applicable species. Kew identifies that binomial as a synonym of Heptapleurum arboricola. This is an exact listed species, not a deduction from the bare genus Schefflera.
- Schefflera arboricola — synonym of Heptapleurum arboricola ↗Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · Accessed 2026-10-12
Safety last reviewed .