How Tall Does a Variegated Schefflera Get in Florida?

Growth Habit

• Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9b through 11, variegated arboricola easily is kept at 2 1/2 to 3 feet in height, whether as a clipped hedge or a naturally shaped shrub. Its rounded, vaselike shape varies little from plant to plant and normally exhibits a very symmetrical crown. More moderate in growth rate than green-leaved varieties, it requires minimal maintenance to keep it in-bounds.

Features

• The plant's variegated foliage brightens a garden's shadiest spots with leaf colors ranging from deep green to chartreuse splashed with golden yellows and creamy ivory and white. The year-round foliage, though quite dense, retains a texture that is not at all coarse. When pruned, it fills in quickly. Left not pruned, the plant bears clusters of small but very showy orange-yellow fruit during winter months in Florida. Thick stems on the plant hold up well to wind and resist breaking.

Culture

• Though Florida is not variegated arboricola's native habitat, the state's climate suits the plant very well. It adapts easily to a sunny location or full shade, but a partially sunny or a partially shady location brings out the best color in the variegated leaves. Light, sandy, well-drained soil provides an ideal planting site for an arboricola, which performs best in soil that is slightly dry. It also does best when its soil is watered regularly but allowed to dry out thoroughly between watering sessions. Not fussy about soil pH, an arboricola adapts to either slightly alkaline or acidic soil. Very drought-tolerant, it shows moderate tolerance to salt spray, has few pest problems and isn't prone to diseases of major concern.

Uses

• Adaptability and versatility -- in addition to the splashy foliage -- added to the popularity of variegated arboricola in Florida plantings. Although not limited to use in deep shade, the plant adds color there, where few other plants thrive. Easily kept in form once shaped, variegated arboricola requires no hard pruning. Just trim wayward branches to keep the desired form intact. The plant can be pruned into a standard tree, a multistemmed tree or a short shrub or hedge; it even can be espaliered against a wall. "Trinette" arboricola (Schefflera arboricola "Trinette"), also hardy in USDA zones 9b through 11 and perhaps Florida's most commonly grown cultivar, helped spur a demand for variegated arboricola with new foliage patterns. Many variegated arboricola cultivars originally intended for indoor use have been planted in Florida's outdoor gardens.