Close-up of layered green-and-cream Polyscias ‘Butterfly’ foliage

Tall baby Polyscias ‘Butterfly’ in a terracotta nursery pot

Three baby Polyscias ‘Butterfly’ plants showing natural foliage variation

Detailed view of branching Polyscias ‘Butterfly’ with variegated leaves

Potted Polyscias ‘Butterfly’ with a woody stem and variegated foliage

Close-up of Polyscias ‘Butterfly’ leaves with cream variegation and water droplets

Baby Polyscias ‘Butterfly’ with cream-edged round leaves in a terracotta pot

Top close-up of cream-edged Polyscias ‘Butterfly’ leaves

Araliaceae

Polyscias balfouriana 'Butterfly'

Balfour Aralia

5 for 4

Polyscias balfouriana 'Butterfly' has rounded green leaflets with irregular cream margins on upright woody stems. Branching shoots form a bushy crown, and the pale edges vary in width and shape.

Read full guide to Polyscias balfouriana 'Butterfly'

€9,75

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Choose a size

Baby · XS Pot Ø 6 cm · approx. 22 cm tall

Variant

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

Polyscias balfouriana 'Butterfly'

Light

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

Watering

Water when ~40–60% dry

Substrate

Aerated • Moisture-buffered • Balanced organic + mineral • Medium

Temperature

Ideal: 18–27 °C • Avoid below: 15 °C

Humidity

Average 40–50%

Growth habit

Upright woody shrub or tree.

Support

not needed

Growth speed

Average

Cultivated size guide

Height: 150 cm • Spread: 120 cm

Toxicity & safety

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 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.

Polyscias balfouriana 'Butterfly'

Polyscias balfouriana 'Butterfly' is a slow-growing woody aralia with rounded green-and-cream foliage arranged in layered clusters around upright branches. The pale edging varies naturally in width and pattern throughout the crown.

Young plants can be leafy close to the base. As the stems mature, more of the lower branches and trunk become visible. New side shoots gradually build a compact crown above the woody stems.

Distinctive foliage of Polyscias balfouriana 'Butterfly'

Variegated margins: cream to pale-ivory colouring follows the leaflet edge and can widen, narrow or break into shorter sections from one leaflet to the next.
Leaflet form: the rounded to kidney-shaped leaflets are often softly puckered or cupped, with shallow teeth around the outer edge.
Compound leaves: each leaf consists of several rounded leaflets held on a shared stalk.

Origin & background

Identity and natural origin of Polyscias balfouriana 'Butterfly'

Polyscias balfouriana is native to wet tropical areas stretching from New Guinea to Queensland and has been grown as an ornamental for many years.

Butterfly is the cream-edged form commonly sold as P. balfouriana. The species is also sometimes treated as Polyscias scutellaria, which is why Balfour aralias can appear under either species name.

Plant care

Caring for Polyscias balfouriana 'Butterfly'

Light: Give ‘Butterfly’ bright filtered light. A little gentle sun early or late in the day is fine once it has adjusted; keep the light filtered around midday to protect the cream margins.
Temperature and humidity: Keep temperatures steady around 18–27 °C and avoid prolonged temperatures below 15 °C. Aim for about 60–80% humidity with gentle airflow around the foliage. Protect the plant from cold draughts and direct heater airflow.
Watering: Check both the surface of the mix and the weight of the pot. Once the upper mix has partly dried and the pot feels lighter, water thoroughly and let the container drain.
Potting mix: Use an airy, organic-rich mix that drains freely and still holds some moisture after watering. Fine bark with perlite or pumice helps keep the mix loose around the roots.
Pruning: Tip pruning encourages side branches and a fuller crown.
Feeding: Feed lightly with a complete houseplant fertiliser while fresh leaves and shoots are developing. Pause feeding if growth stops and resume when fresh growth begins.
Repotting: Repot when roots fill the pot or the mix has become compacted. Move to a slightly larger pot only when the roots need more space.

Issues & solutions

Common issues with Polyscias balfouriana 'Butterfly'

Cream edges become brown and dry: Repeated drought, hot airflow, harsh sun and mineral buildup can damage pale tissue. Check recent light, moisture and feeding first. If a salt buildup is likely and water drains freely, rinse only at a scheduled watering; never flush a pot that is already waterlogged.
A newly moved plant sheds many leaves: abrupt changes in light, temperature or moisture can trigger leaf drop. Give it one warm, bright position with filtered light and keep the light and watering routine consistent.
Leaves yellow while the mix stays wet: Pause watering and check drainage. If decline continues, inspect the roots, keeping every firm healthy root regardless of colour. Remove only confirmed mushy or decaying tissue with disinfected tools and replace degraded mix in a clean draining pot appropriate to the remaining roots.
Sticky residue, fixed bumps or cottony clusters appear: Look for living scale insects, mealybugs or spider mites before treating. Isolate a confirmed infestation and remove accessible pests carefully. Use only a locally authorised product labelled for the identified pest on indoor ornamental aralias if necessary, following dose, permitted application sites and repeat intervals.

Safety

Keep Polyscias balfouriana ‘Butterfly’ away from pets and children

Keep out of reach: Do not let cats, dogs or children chew this plant. Some related Polyscias species are toxic to pets, so treat ‘Butterfly’ with caution.
Possible irritation: Related Polyscias species contain saponins and can irritate the digestive tract or skin. Avoid contact with sap when pruning and wash hands afterwards.
If exposure occurs: Chewing may cause drooling, vomiting or stomach upset. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional if symptoms develop.

Names & etymology

About the name Polyscias balfouriana

Polyscias combines Greek polys, many, with skia, shade, parasol or canopy. The epithet balfouriana honours the Scottish botanist John Hutton Balfour.

Johann Reinhold Forster and Johann Georg Adam Forster established the genus Polyscias in 1776 in Characteres Generum Plantarum, second edition, page 63.

Édouard-François André first described it as Aralia balfouriana in 1898 in Revue Horticole (Paris), volume 70, page 229. Liberty Hyde Bailey later placed it in Polyscias as Polyscias balfouriana in 1916 in Rhodora, volume 18, page 153.

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'

€9,75

FAQs about Polyscias scutellaria 'Butterfly'

Why do the pale leaf edges crisp before the green centers?

The creamy margins are the most delicate part of the leaf, so they usually show dryness, salt stress, or harsh light first.

Can I keep it compact with regular pinching?

Yes. Because it already has a shrubby habit, trimming the tips is one of the easiest ways to keep it fuller and denser instead of taller and looser.

Why is it slower after I move it to a new room?

Stability matters with Polyscias. Even when the new spot is suitable, this type often needs time to adjust after changes in light, humidity, or temperature.