Light
Bright indirect • approx. 10,000–20,000 lux



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Quick Care Guide
Light
Bright indirect • approx. 10,000–20,000 lux
Watering
Water when ~30–50% dry
Substrate
Aerated • Moisture-buffered • Balanced organic + mineral • Medium
Temperature
Ideal: 18–24 °C • Avoid below: 10 °C
Humidity
Moist 50–60 %
Growth habit
Upright woody shrub or tree.
Support
not needed
Growth speed
Average
Max size indoors
Max. height: 250 cm • Max. spread: 150 cm
Toxicity & safety
Toxic
Origin & habitat
Horticultural Heptapleurum cultivar
Outdoor growing
Outside from 18 °C · sheltered spot
These care values are quick reference points for indoor growing. Use them as a guide, then adjust for pot size, substrate, temperature and how quickly the substrate dries.
For more detail, read the full product description or visit our Plant Care Guides.
Heptapleurum (Schefflera) arboricola 'Melanie' is a variegated dwarf umbrella tree with leathery palmate leaves. Each mature leaf commonly carries around eight oval dark green leaflets, heavily splashed with yellow and cream, so the plant has a bright mixed pattern while keeping the familiar umbrella-tree leaf shape.
The plant grows from upright woody stems and develops into a compact, leafy shrub. As the stems mature, the leaf clusters become more defined and pruning can guide the plant into a fuller shape. 'Melanie' keeps the Heptapleurum arboricola stem-based shrub habit, with variegation that varies naturally between individual leaves.
Heptapleurum arboricola is native to Hainan and Taiwan, where it grows in warm, wet tropical conditions as a scrambling shrub. Indoors, it becomes a woody potted plant that depends on stable warmth, filtered light and a well-aerated potting mix. 'Melanie' adds cream-yellow variegation to the species’ palmately compound leaves.
As the plant matures, stems become firmer and the leaf clusters develop more clearly. A young 'Melanie' can look quite dense at first, then stretch if light is too weak. Pruning above leaf nodes keeps the plant from becoming bare at the base and helps it produce new shoots from lower points.
Heptapleurum arboricola 'Melanie' is toxic if ingested and is not pet-safe. The leaves and sap can irritate the mouth and throat, and sap may irritate sensitive skin. Keep it away from pets and children, and clean pruning tools after cutting stems.
Heptapleurum arboricola is part of the Araliaceae family and remains widely recognised under the synonym Schefflera arboricola. The species epithet arboricola means “dwelling in or on trees”, referring to the species’ scrambling shrub habit in wet tropical forest. 'Melanie' is the cultivar name for this yellow-and-cream variegated selection.
Heptapleurum (Schefflera) arboricola 'Melanie' grows as a compact umbrella shrub with heavy cream-yellow variegation and woody stems that respond well to pruning.
Plant names, growth habits, natural habitats and indoor care guidance are checked against trusted botanical, habitat and horticultural references before publication.View our plant care resources and references.