Umbrella Tree

Schefflera arboricola, the dwarf umbrella plant, is an evergreen shrub or small tree from Taiwan and Hainan, reaching ten to twenty-five feet in tropical climates and a fraction of that in a pot. Glossy leaves are divided into seven to nine leaflets radiating from a single point like umbrella ribs. Red flowers and fruit appear only on mature outdoor plants.

Indoors it holds a neat form for years but drops leaves at the first sign of the compost being too wet or too dry, which is the single most common complaint and a watering problem rather than a light one. It also contains calcium oxalate throughout, so it is a poor choice in a house with animals inclined to chew.