Light
Bright indirect • approx. 10,000–20,000 lux
Araliaceae
Polyscias balfouriana 'Butterfly'
Balfour Aralia
- Curated selection:
Every plant is hand‑picked for health and visual appeal, so you receive a strong, well‑established plant.
- Representative photos:
Product images show a typical plant of this variety. Natural differences in leaf number, shape or variegation are normal, your plant will still match in type and quality.
- Size details:
Listed sizes refer to pot diameter (cm) and approximate overall height (cm) from the base of the pot to the tallest leaf or stem.
- “Get What You See” items:
If you are buying the exact plant shown in the photos, this is clearly stated in the size section.
- Individual photos:
One‑off photos are only provided when this is explicitly mentioned in the size section. - For special traits or small quirks, please check the full product description.
VAT included · plus
Your new plant has just travelled a long way and needs a calm start in its new home. For step-by-step unboxing and first-week care, check our after-delivery care guide. For deeper tips on how your plant settles in over the next weeks, read our houseplant acclimatization guide.
- Care basics , Main hub with links to all houseplant care guides.
- After delivery & first week , Unpacking, first placement, and early recovery.
- Light, How much light houseplants really need indoors.
- Watering , When to water and how to avoid root rot.
- Substrates & roots, Potting mixes and drainage for strong root systems.
- Humidity, When humidity matters and what actually helps.
- Fertilizing, Simple feeding routine without burning roots.
- Problems & pests, Yellow leaves, brown tips, bugs, and fixes that work.
- Semi-hydro, How to run low-maintenance mineral substrates.
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Care at a glance
Polyscias balfouriana 'Butterfly'
Watering
Water when ~40–60% dry
Substrate
Aerated • Moisture-buffered • Balanced organic + mineral • Medium
Temperature
Ideal: 18–27 °C • Avoid below: 15 °C
Humidity
Humid 60–80 % +
Growth habit
Upright woody shrub or tree.
Support
not needed
Growth speed
Average
Max size indoors
Max. height: 150 cm • Max. spread: 120 cm
Toxicity & safety
Mildly toxic
Origin & habitat
Cultivar of Polyscias balfouriana; species native from New Guinea to Queensland
Outdoor growing
Outside from 15 °C · sheltered spot
How to read these values
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.
- 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 indoor conditions; use as a guide, not a promise.
- Max size indoors: realistic long-term indoor size under good conditions.
- 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.
Polyscias balfouriana 'Butterfly'
Polyscias balfouriana 'Butterfly' has light-green foliage with a subtle cream margin on rounded, elliptical to kidney-shaped leaflets. Softly crenellated edges define the leaf margins on the plant’s woody stems.
This warm-growing tropical Araliaceae forms a shrub or small-tree structure in a container. Rounded foliage and cream-edged leaves need steady warmth, bright indirect light, even moisture and an airy substrate.
Polyscias balfouriana 'Butterfly' profile
- Plant type: Woody tropical Polyscias from the family Araliaceae.
- Leaves: Rounded, elliptical to kidney-shaped leaflets.
- Margins: Crenellated leaflet edges with a soft, rounded outline.
- Colour: Light-green leaves with a subtle cream margin.
- Growth habit: Shrub or small-tree structure in a container.
- Conditions: Warm, bright and evenly moist with reliable drainage.
Rounded foliage on Polyscias balfouriana 'Butterfly'
Polyscias balfouriana is native from New Guinea to Queensland and grows as a wet-tropical shrub or tree. Polyscias balfouriana 'Butterfly' carries rounded leaflets, crenellated margins and a pale cream edge on a woody frame.
The cream margin can brown faster than the greener parts of the leaf if the plant dries too far or sits in harsh direct sun. Bright indirect light and an evenly managed root zone reduce browning and scorch on new leaves.
Care for Polyscias balfouriana 'Butterfly'
- Light: Bright indirect light keeps new growth compact while reducing scorch risk on the pale margins.
- Watering: Water when the upper substrate has started to dry, then drain the pot well.
- Humidity: Moderate to higher humidity reduces dry edges on the rounded leaflets.
- Temperature: Keep warm and away from cold draughts that can trigger leaf drop.
- Substrate: Use an airy mix that holds light moisture without staying compacted or wet.
- Pruning: Trim long shoots selectively to keep the woody frame even.
- Repotting: Repot gently after acclimation when roots have filled the pot.
Common issues with Polyscias balfouriana 'Butterfly'
- Leaf drop: Cold, relocation or watering swings can cause sudden shedding.
- Brown margins: Dry air, drought stress or harsh sun can mark the cream-edged leaves.
- Root stress: Wet compacted substrate can cause yellowing and weak new growth.
- Pests: Check stems and leaflet bases for scale, mealybugs and spider mites.
- Long soft growth: Weak light can produce stretched stems and a looser outline.
Safety for Polyscias balfouriana 'Butterfly'
Keep Polyscias balfouriana 'Butterfly' away from pets and children that may chew the leaves. Polyscias foliage can irritate the mouth and stomach if ingested.
Botanical notes on Polyscias balfouriana
Polyscias balfouriana was published under its current combination by Liberty Hyde Bailey in 1916. The genus name comes from Greek roots meaning “many” and “shade” or “umbrella.”
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.
Polyscias balfouriana 'Butterfly'
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Polyscias balfouriana 'Butterfly'
Sale price€10,00
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