Heptapleurum actinophyllum 'Golden Amate'

From New Guinea and northern Australia

Heptapleurum actinophyllum is native from southern New Guinea to northern Australia.

In wet tropical forest it may grow as a tree or climb through surrounding vegetation. Schefflera actinophylla is its familiar older name, and ‘Golden Amate’ is a cultivated yellow-green selection.

Light, balance and pruning for ‘Golden Amate’

Use bright filtered light, acclimatising the plant before stronger sun. Medium light is tolerated but produces greener, more open growth.

Prune above a node to control height or encourage branching, and rotate the pot gradually for even growth.

Water after the mix has dried partway through, then soak it evenly and empty any collected water. Use an aerated mix in a stable pot that matches the root system.

Warm stable conditions and average humidity are suitable. Feed while new growth is active and repot when roots fill the container or the mix compacts.

Leaf drop and colour in ‘Golden Amate’

Several yellow leaves above a wet heavy root zone suggest poor aeration. Remove failed roots and replace compacted substrate with a porous mix. Dry crisp foliage with a light, dry pot needs thorough watering.

Even chartreuse colour is normal. Patchy bleaching or dry brown areas on the exposed side indicate scorch. Long internodes and small leaflets point to insufficient light after root health is restored.

Sticky residue or sooty mould suggests sap-feeding pests. Fixed bumps indicate scale, cottony deposits indicate mealybugs and fine stippling indicates mites. Move the plant away from others and treat the pest shown by these signs.

Heptapleurum actinophyllum ‘Golden Amate’ is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth, throat, skin and eyes.
• Chewing may cause burning pain, drooling, swelling, vomiting or difficulty swallowing. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after exposure, especially if swelling or breathing problems occur.

How did the name change from Schefflera actinophylla to Heptapleurum actinophyllum?

Heptapleurum combines Greek hepta, meaning seven, with pleuron, meaning rib or side. The epithet actinophyllum means ray-leaved.

Joseph Gaertner established the genus Heptapleurum in 1791 in De Fructibus et Seminibus Plantarum, volume 2, page 472.

Stephan Friedrich Ladislaus Endlicher first described it as Brassaia actinophylla in 1839 in Novarum Stirpium Decades, volume 1, page 89. Porter Prescott Lowry and Gregory M. Plunkett later placed it in Heptapleurum as Heptapleurum actinophyllum in 2020 in Novon, volume 28, page 146.

Schefflera actinophylla is the familiar former name. Porter P. Lowry II and Gregory M. Plunkett reinstated Heptapleurum for the Asian group formerly included in Schefflera in 2020 in Novon, volume 28. Kew’s World Checklist accepts Heptapleurum actinophyllum.