Close-up of Heptapleurum ‘Melanie’ showing cream-and-yellow marbling across dark-green leaflets

Heptapleurum arboricola ‘Melanie’ in a nursery pot, with bushy cream-and-green umbrella foliage

Potted Heptapleurum arboricola ‘Melanie’ with mottled yellow, cream and dark-green leaves

Close-up of Heptapleurum ‘Melanie’ foliage with oval leaflets marbled cream, yellow and green

Heptapleurum arboricola ‘Melanie’ full plant with compact bushy growth and variegated leaflets

Heptapleurum ‘Melanie’ in a nursery pot, showing dense umbrella-shaped cream-and-green foliage

Potted Heptapleurum ‘Melanie’ showing glossy leaflets marbled with cream, yellow and green

Araliaceae

Heptapleurum arboricola 'Melanie'

Dwarf Umbrella Tree

Cream-and-yellow marbling breaks across the dark-green umbrella-shaped leaves of Heptapleurum arboricola 'Melanie'. Closely branching stems support a compact crown, while the pale pattern varies across the foliage.

Read full guide to Heptapleurum arboricola 'Melanie'

€16,75

VAT included · plus

Plant size: Pot Ø 13 cmapprox. 40 cm tall

Sizes are approximate. Height is measured from the bottom of the pot to the top of the plant; diameter at the widest point.

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Care at a glance

Heptapleurum arboricola 'Melanie'

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

Elevated 50–60%

Growth habit

Upright woody shrub or tree.

Support

not needed

Growth speed

Average

Cultivated size guide

Height: 250 cm • Spread: 150 cm

Toxicity & safety

Toxic

Origin & habitat

Horticultural Heptapleurum cultivar

Outdoor growing

Outside from 18 °C · sheltered spot

How to read these values

These care values give practical guidance for growing the plant. Adjust care 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.

Light: level and approximate lux at leaf level.
Watering: “% dry” shows how far the substrate should dry before watering again.
Substrate: structure, drainage, moisture retention, base material and particle size.
Temperature: “Ideal” shows the preferred range; “Avoid below” marks the cold-stress threshold.
Humidity: target range; steady conditions usually matter more than exact numbers.

Growth habit: how the plant grows, such as upright, climbing, trailing, clumping or rosette-forming.
Support: whether a stake, pole or trellis is needed, optional or unnecessary.
Growth speed: expected pace under suitable growing conditions; use as a guide, not a promise.

Cultivated size guide: approximate dimensions for an established plant in the stated growing context. Height is measured upwards from the growing surface; foliage height excludes flower stems. Trailing length follows a stem, while foliage drop is the vertical distance from the crown to the lowest leaf tips. Spread is the width of the leafy plant or crown, not an individual leaf. Flowering height includes the flower stems. A container guide applies to pot-grown plants; an in-ground guide applies to plants rooted in the ground. Size also depends on age, conditions, pot space and training.

These figures do not describe the size supplied and are not fixed upper limits.

Toxicity & safety: irritation, toxicity or physical hazards such as spines or bristles.
Origin & habitat: native range, hybrid background or typical habitat where relevant.
Outdoor growing: when a potted indoor plant can be placed outside and what outdoor protection it needs.

Heptapleurum arboricola 'Melanie'

‘Melanie’ carries generous cream and yellow areas through the leaves, including broad central markings and pale edges. Bright mottling shifts through the crown, with green and pale areas appearing in varied proportions across the leaves.

It stays naturally bushy, with older stems gradually becoming woody beneath the foliage. Mature leaves commonly have around eight oval leaflets arranged in broad radiating groups across the compact crown.

‘Melanie’ plant features

Dark green leaves heavily splashed with cream and yellow
Glossy, leathery umbrella-shaped foliage
About eight oval leaflets on mature leaves
Compact, bushy evergreen growth

Origin & background

Where the species behind Heptapleurum arboricola 'Melanie' grows naturally

Heptapleurum arboricola is native to Hainan and Taiwan. In nature it grows in warm, humid forest, often along streams below roughly 900 m and beneath the tree canopy.

Plant care

How to care for Heptapleurum arboricola 'Melanie'

Light: Keep ‘Melanie’ in bright indirect light. The large cream and yellow areas benefit from good light, but they are also the first parts to burn if the plant is suddenly moved into strong direct sun. Increase any sun exposure gradually.
Watering: Let the potting mix dry somewhat before watering again, but do not wait until the whole pot has dried out. When the pot feels noticeably lighter and the mix deeper down is no longer wet, it is ready for water. Under lower light or cooler conditions, a heavily variegated plant can stay damp for much longer, so always check before watering.
Temperature: Keep ‘Melanie’ within roughly 18–24 °C for routine growth, with protection from prolonged exposure below 10 °C.
Substrate, humidity and airflow: Use an airy potting mix that drains freely but does not dry out immediately. Hold relative humidity near the 50–60% mark. Provide gentle ventilation around the foliage. Warm, stable conditions suit it best.
Feeding, repotting and pruning: Feed only while it is growing steadily, at a moderate dose. When new growth pauses, reduce or stop feeding. Move to a slightly larger pot when roots are crowded and need more space. If the old mix no longer drains well before the roots are crowded, replace the mix while keeping the container appropriately sized. Remove damaged growth or shorten an occasional long stem when the shape needs tidying.

Issues & solutions

Common problems with Heptapleurum arboricola ‘Melanie’

Pale parts of the leaves develop tan or brown patches: If the marks are mostly on the side facing the window, strong direct sun is the likely cause. Move the plant back from the hottest sun and increase exposure more slowly in future. The variegated-plant guide explains why pale tissue is more sensitive.
White cottony insects collect around the leaf joints: Check the inner stems and leaf stalks for mealybugs. Keep it apart from the rest of your plants, remove visible insects and use a treatment labelled for mealybugs on houseplants if needed. Repeat it only as instructed on the label. The mealybug guide covers the full process.
The plant becomes limp and several leaves turn yellow: Check how wet the potting mix is. Water thoroughly if the pot is genuinely dry and light; if it is still wet and heavy, leave it to dry and make sure excess water can escape.
New growth is small and the stems are widely spaced: Improve the light first. Move the plant gradually closer to a bright window and only increase feeding if it is already growing actively. Extra fertiliser cannot make up for a dark position.

Safety

Heptapleurum (Schefflera) arboricola ‘Melanie’ 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.

Names & etymology

How did the name change from Schefflera arboricola to Heptapleurum arboricola?

Heptapleurum combines Greek hepta, meaning seven, with pleuron, meaning rib or side. The epithet arboricola means tree-dweller.

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

Bunzō Hayata first described Heptapleurum arboricola in 1916 in Icones Plantarum Formosanarum, volume 6, page 23.

Schefflera arboricola 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 arboricola.

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.