Schefflera taiwaniana

Schefflera taiwaniana is one of those plants related to our indoor scheffleras that are hardy enough to withstand normal winters. This botanical species native to the mountains of Taiwan may sometimes behave like a perennial in our climates, but its crown can endure short periods of freezing temperatures around -12 to -15°C. It is a very ornamental evergreen bush, forming an elegant and lush shrub with branches arranged in a 360° pattern and bearing beautiful palmate leaves. In summer it forms discreet panicles of flowers which give way to clusters of black fruits. This amazing Schefflera deserves to be discovered and planted in our gardens: give it partial shade and soft, moist but well-drained soil. Reserved for experienced gardeners.

The Taiwanese Schefflera belongs to the Araliaceae family. It is naturally found among conifers in high-altitude forests in Vietnam and China. This plant appreciates fertile, humus-rich and moist soils, but adapts quite easily to any good garden soil that remains moist. As this Schefflera is still rare in cultivation we know very little about its limits, especially in terms of development and hardiness. A gardener in Dublin claimed to have kept his for over 10 years, without winter protection! The foliage persists in winter.

It is a bush with a rounded, spreading, slightly weeping habit reaching an average height of 3 metres (10 feet), or over 4 metres (13 feet) in favourable regions. Its spread can be almost equal to its height and its growth is more or less rapid depending on the growing conditions. The young reddish-purple branches bear small clusters of leaves, gathered in bundles at the top. Each leaf is divided into 9 elongated and leathery leaflets, toothed at the edges and shiny dark green on the upper side, lighter underneath. The young shoots are covered with white down. The very small flowers appear in summer, from June to August depending on the climate, and last for several weeks, they are green to brown and grouped in umbels, as if placed above the foliage and followed by small violet fruits. 

Schefflera taiwaniana is a very beautiful bush for an exotic-inspired garden. Once established, it is superb as a standalone plant in a shaded area, or in a group. It is also interesting when paired with trees and shrubs that also appreciate moist to wet but well-drained soils such as Japanese maples or its Aralia cousins. It can be combined with beautiful Asian plants, such as the caramel tree, Japanese maple, Fatsia, or Arisaema. Deciduous spindle trees and flowering dogwoods, often magnificent at the end of the season, are also very beautiful companions for this plant. It can also be displayed in a large pot on a terrace or a balcony that is sheltered from the wind.