This plant can be grown in full sun in Santa Barbara but looks best where it can brighten a shady spot. Water occasionally to regularly. Hardy to at least down to 25 F. A nice large shrub that puts a splash of color in the shade garden.

We have had this plant growing in a shaded side of our demonstration garden for many years and it is surprisingly tough, having weathered cold winter temperatures to 25° F and long dry periods in summer without irrigation. The plant is now about 12 feet tall by as wide. It was originally purchased as an interior house plant and, though not tagged, it appears to be very similar or the same as the cultivar called 'Gold Finger'.

Heptapleurum arboricola is native to Hainan, China and Taiwan and has long been known as Schefflera arboricola, with the genus honoring Jakob Scheffler, a Polish physician. The current genus name comes from the Greek words 'hepta' meaning "seven" and 'pleuron' meaning "side" or "rib" in reference to the number of leaflets of the type plant.The specific epithet means "arboreal' or "living in trees". The species was reportedly first introduced into the trade in the 1960's by San Diego area nurseryman Horace Anderson from cuttings originating from the Huntington Botanical Gardens. We grew this plant from 2009 until 2014. 

This information about Heptapleurum arboricola 'Variegata' displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.