Full Size Schefflera 'Amate'

Description

If you want a big, leafy tree that fills a room quickly, the Schefflera Amate grows faster than almost any other statement plant we carry. Its glossy leaflets fan out from each stem in a full circle, like the spokes of an umbrella, which is exactly how the umbrella plant earned its name. Each canopy sits atop a slim trunk, so it reads as a proper indoor tree without eating up much floor space. Native to the tropical rainforests of northern Australia and New Guinea, the Schefflera Amate settles at a comfortable 8 to 10 feet (2.4 to 3 m) indoors.

It's an easy plant to share a home with, adapting well to the light and rhythm of a normal room once it has settled in. That mix of quick growth and low fuss makes the Schefflera Amate a satisfying pick whether it's your first big plant or your tenth. If you'd like to see how full and tall yours is before it arrives, we can walk you through the greenhouse on a live video call and show you the exact plant you're getting.

Care

Is the Schefflera Amate easy to care for?

Schefflera care is refreshingly straightforward, which is part of why the umbrella plant is such a popular houseplant. Give your Schefflera Amate bright light, water it when the soil has dried partway down, and feed it monthly through the growing season, and it settles into an easy routine. We're always here if you'd like a hand along the way.

Does the Schefflera Amate like sun or shade?

Your Schefflera Amate is happiest in bright, indirect light, so a north or east window suits it well, as does a spot a few feet back from a brighter one. It can manage in medium light too, though it grows more slowly and can stretch out a little, so turning it now and then keeps the canopy even.

How often do you water a Schefflera Amate?

Water your Schefflera Amate when the top third of the soil feels dry, which usually works out to every 7 to 14 days, and let the excess drain away fully. Ease off in winter when growth slows, since overwatering is the main thing this plant would rather you avoid.

Do you need to fertilize a Schefflera Amate?

Feed your Schefflera Amate once a month with a balanced, all-purpose houseplant fertilizer through spring and summer, when it's putting on most of its growth. Let it rest over fall and winter with no feeding, and it will pick back up on its own once the days lengthen.

What size pot does a Schefflera Amate like?

The Schefflera Amate prefers a snug pot rather than a large one, ideally only an inch or two wider than its root ball. Too much extra soil holds water the roots can't use quickly, so a well-fitted pot with good drainage keeps this umbrella plant steadier and healthier.

How big does a Schefflera Amate get indoors?

Indoors, your Schefflera Amate will reach around 8 to 10 feet (2.4 to 3 m), growing quickly enough that you'll notice new leaves through spring and summer. In its native rainforests it climbs far higher, but in a pot it stays at a manageable indoor-tree height.

Can you prune a Schefflera Amate to control its height?

Yes, the Schefflera Amate takes well to pruning, so you can snip the top back to the height you want and it will branch out fuller below. It's worth wearing gloves while you do, since the sap can irritate sensitive skin, and the trimmed stem tips can be used to grow new plants if you like.

Pet friendly?

We want to be straight with you here:

the Schefflera Amate is toxic to cats and dogs, which the ASPCA attributes to the calcium oxalate crystals in its leaves and stems. A pet that chews on it can get mouth irritation, drooling, and an upset stomach, so this is a plant to place thoughtfully in homes with animals. Happily, it grows as a tall tree with most of its leaves up high, so a spot where the lower canopy stays out of reach keeps everyone comfortable.

Is the Schefflera Amate toxic to dogs?

Yes, the Schefflera Amate is toxic to dogs, and a curious chew can cause drooling, mouth irritation, and vomiting. Standing it where a wagging tail and curious mouth can't reach the leaves, or raising it out of the way, keeps your dog safely clear of it.

Is the Schefflera Amate toxic to cats?

The Schefflera Amate is toxic to cats too, with the same calcium oxalate crystals causing mouth discomfort and stomach upset if nibbled. Cats tend to be less tempted by an upright tree than a trailing plant, but a spot with the leaves out of paw's reach is still the safest choice.

Factoids

Why is the Schefflera Amate called an umbrella plant?

The umbrella plant name comes from the way its leaflets radiate out from a central point on each stem, spreading like the ribs of an open umbrella. You'll also see the Schefflera Amate sold as the umbrella tree, both nods to that same distinctive leaf shape.

What's the difference between the Schefflera Amate and the Arboricola?

The Schefflera Amate is the larger-leaved umbrella plant, growing into a tall indoor tree with broad, glossy leaflets, while the Schefflera Arboricola is the dwarf version with smaller leaves and a more compact, bushy shape. Amate is a cultivar bred for especially full, healthy foliage.

How fast does a Schefflera Amate grow?

The Schefflera Amate is a genuinely quick grower for a statement plant, adding noticeable height and new leaves across each spring and summer. Bright light and steady care keep that pace up, which is part of what makes it so rewarding to watch fill a room.

How long does a Schefflera Amate live?

With good, consistent schefflera plant care, your Schefflera Amate can be a companion for decades. These are long-lived houseplants, and a well-kept one often grows alongside its owner for many years, becoming a lasting part of the room.

Buy a Schefflera Amate

A Schefflera Amate is the quickest way we know to give a room a full, leafy, tree-sized presence. Ours arrive healthy and well-shaped from our New Jersey greenhouse, and if you'd like to choose yours first, book a free video shopping call so we can show you around the greenhouse on camera. When you're set, we deliver it ourselves by van and driver, with none of the shipping-box handling, and stay on hand to help with umbrella plant care for as long as you own it.

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Schefflera Amate umbrella plant, NYC delivery | Dahing

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Meet the Schefflera Amate, a fast-growing umbrella plant that fills a room. Get schefflera care tips, see yours on a free video call, and we deliver by van.