Plerandra elegantissima explained

Plerandra elegantissima (formerly called Schefflera elegantissima and Dizygotheca elegantissima), the false aralia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Araliaceae, native to New Caledonia.[1]

Description

Growing to 8- tall by 20NaN0 broad, it is an evergreen shrub or tree. Its leaves are thin, coppery red to dark green with toothed edges and consist of 7-11 leaflets. On adult plants the leaves are much broader. In autumn it bears clusters of pale green flowers followed by black fruit.

Cultivation

With a minimum temperature of 13-, in temperate zones it is grown as a houseplant and is much more compact, typically reaching heights of 2-.[2] In cultivation, it needs a lot of light and humidity. The soil should dry out between watering. This plant has little branching and is sensitive to the appearance of mealybugs.

Under the name Schefflera elegantissima, this plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[3] [4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Taxon: Schefflera elegantissima (hort. Veitch ex Mast.) Lowry & Frodin . 2008-02-22 . Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) . United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Area . https://web.archive.org/web/20090508182225/http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?401649 . 2009-05-08 . dead .
  2. Book: RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. 2008. Dorling Kindersley. United Kingdom. 978-1405332965. 1136.
  3. Web site: Schefflera elegantissima . RHS . 5 March 2021.
  4. Web site: AGM Plants - Ornamental . July 2017 . 95 . Royal Horticultural Society . 5 November 2018.