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