Hardy Schefflera
Its relatives are often seen as houseplants, but this Schefflera species is actually fully hardy for us here in the Pacific Northwest and we couldn’t be more thrilled about it! Looking like something out of the tropics or a lush Asian cloud forest with its long golden leaves covered in fuzzy indumentum. The new growth emerges a bright silver or gold and is a couple month long slow motion firework as it keeps growing larger and larger until settling at a mature leaf that is sometimes in excess of 2′ long! Evergreen and growing to about 6-10′ tall and 6′ wide. A real winner for the shade garden with even moisture.
Latin Name: Schefflera delavayi
Site and Soil: A variety of soils, so long as they’re well draining in full to part shade
Hardiness: Hardy to about 0ºF.
Leaf Color: New growth emerges bright silver to gold
Leaf Size: Up to 2′ long or more
Size at Maturity: 6-10 ft. in height by 6′ wide
Bloom Time: Late October-December
Pests & Diseases: None that we have observed
USDA Zone: 7