Family: Araliaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Thrives and spreads in regions with tropical climates
- Naturalized on Kauai, Oahu, Maui and Hawaii (Hawaiian Islands) and elsewhere in the wet tropics
- An invasive tree in Australia, South Africa and Hawaii, with growing evidence that it will negatively impact natural ecosystems
- Other Schefflera species are invasive
- Causes dermatitis, and may be toxic to animals and people if ingested
- Can grow in full sun to shade
- Tolerates many soil types
- May grow epiphytically, and roots could strangle host trees like ‘ōhi‘a
- Reproduces by potentially prolific seed production
- Seeds dispersed by birds, and through intentional cultivation
- Tolerates and will grow back after repeated cutting and severe pruning
Low Risk Traits:
- Use as an indoor plant eliminates invasion risk
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Not documented to be allelopathic
- Herbicides may provide effective control