Schefflera Scheffleras are large and graceful tropical plants often used in interior decorating. They are superb long-lived houseplants. It is possible to prune them to maintain a lower height. The leaves are composed of oval leaflets arranged in an umbrella spoke pattern.
Young plants have small leaves with only three to five leaflets.
In older plants the leaves are dramatically larger, eventually developing up to 12 leaflets, each up to 12 inches long. In the home, plant diseases are very rarely a problem. Too much or too little water plus insects and mites are the main problems. Mealybugs, scale insects and mites are common pests of scheffleras. Root rot usually results from a soil mix that does not drain quickly or overly frequent watering.