Family: Araliaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Polyscias cumingiana (geranium aralia) is native to the Philippines and parts of the southwestern Pacific. It is a tropical evergreen shrub or small tree valued for its attractive, finely divided compound leaves that create a soft, lacy texture in the landscape. In cultivation, it is commonly used as an ornamental plant in tropical gardens, as a hedge or screen, and sometimes as a potted or indoor foliage plant in warmer climates. Its dense, upright growth habit and lush appearance make it popular for adding structure and greenery to landscaped spaces.

Risks & Threats
While Polyscias cumingiana is not known to be naturalized in Hawaiʻi, it does possess traits that are cause for concern, including its adaptability in tropical environments and its use as a widely planted ornamental that could potentially escape cultivation. In similar climates, related ornamental aralias have shown the ability to spread under favorable conditions, particularly where birds may disperse seeds. Ongoing evaluation is needed to determine whether this species could establish in natural areas and potentially impact Hawaiʻi’s ecosystems. Careful monitoring and cautious use are recommended to help ensure it does not become a future invasive concern.

High Risk Traits:

• Forms dense thickets
  
• Benefits from pruning/cultivation
  
• Intentionally spread by people
  
• Bird-dispersed seeds
  
• Seeds survive gut passage
  
• Reproduces vegetatively (cuttings)
  
• Self-compatible or apomictic
  
• Produces viable seed
  
• Hybridizes naturally

Low Risk Traits:

• No spines or thorns
  
• No known weediness
  
• No prolific seed production
  
• No wind dispersal
  
• No external animal dispersal