Schefflera arboricola 'Gerda' (Umbrella tree) – H35 cm | Pot Ø13 cm
- Regular price
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€15,95 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€15,95
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why do the leaves of a Schefflera suddenly fall off? It's almost always related to a change in environment, a draft, or being moved — the Schefflera is very sensitive to disturbances and prefers stability once settled in its permanent spot.
How to keep a Schefflera compact and bushy? Prune the longest stems above a node in spring — this light pruning encourages new side shoots and maintains a dense, balanced shape that is much more decorative than a stretched silhouette.
SHIPPING & PACKAGING
Shipping within 24/48 hours via DPD
- Delivery in 2 to 5 business days
- Eco-friendly packaging: recyclable boxes and biodegradable materials
- Special protection to ensure the plant arrives in perfect condition
- Parcel tracking sent by email as soon as shipped
- Free delivery on orders over €50
48H QUALITY GUARANTEE
We guarantee that your plants will arrive in perfect condition. If your plant arrives damaged or in poor condition:
- Contact us within 48 hours at hello@verdeia.eu with photos
- Free replacement or full refund
- No return necessary – we trust you
The guarantee covers: damage related to transport, severely weakened plant upon arrival, preparation errors.
CARE TIPS UPON ARRIVAL
To help your plant settle in for the long term:
- Unpack immediately and inspect your plant
- Let it acclimatize 24-48h in a bright spot without direct sunlight
- Check soil moisture before watering (dry surface = light watering)
- Wait 2-3 weeks before repotting
- Avoid heat sources and drafts
- Gently wipe leaves to remove dust
Need help? Contact our team at hello@verdeia.eu or via chat.
🌿 Shiny palmate foliage with leaflets • ✨ Balanced and graphic silhouette • 🌤️ Indirect or partial shade light • 💧 Moderate watering • 📏 H35 cm | Pot Ø13 cm
The Schefflera arboricola 'Gerda', also called the umbrella tree, is an elegant tropical plant native to the tropical regions of Asia and Oceania. Its shiny green foliage divided into palmate leaflets — each leaf opens like a hand reaching for the light — creates a balanced and very graphic silhouette, both light and airy.
Compact and easy to care for, it adapts to small spaces and low-light interiors better than most tropical plants in the indoor plant selection — a valuable asset for offices and entryways without direct sunlight.
Which Schefflera variety to choose?
The Schefflera genus offers several very distinct silhouettes and sizes — here is how to place 'Gerda' among the catalog references:
- Schefflera 'Gerda' (this plant) — shiny green palmate foliage, compact form 35 cm, refined and graphic silhouette. The best choice for a very decorative small size.
- Schefflera Charlotte — deep solid green umbrella-shaped foliage, medium size 45 cm, elegant and balanced form. The choice for a more classic and upright silhouette.
- Schefflera Nora — shiny green umbrella-shaped foliage, natural vertical form, medium size. The choice for a more vertical and airy form.
- Schefflera Gold Capella — variegated palmate foliage in green and golden yellow, medium to large size 75-130 cm. The choice to introduce color and light into a large space.
- Schefflera Compacta — very dense small leaves, large 80 cm size, very compact and dense form. The choice for maximum volume in a very structured space.
- Schefflera actinophylla 'Amate' — large shiny solid green leaves, large size 100 cm, majestic form. The choice for an XXL statement plant in a large, very bright space.
Exposure & placement
The Schefflera 'Gerda' enjoys bright indirect light but tolerates partial shade very well — it is one of the most versatile tropical plants in terms of lighting, among the easy-care plants for city dwellers with variable conditions.
- Light: bright indirect to partial shade — protected from direct sun that burns the leaflets and causes yellowing.
- Locations: living room, entryway, office, bedroom — anywhere with stable light without prolonged direct sunlight.
- Avoid: cold drafts and temperatures below 15 °C — Schefflera reacts by dropping its leaves.
- Temperature: ideally 18 to 25 °C.
Turn the plant a quarter turn every two weeks — Schefflera naturally orients its leaflets toward the light, and regular rotation ensures a balanced silhouette from all sides.
Watering & care
The Schefflera 'Gerda' prefers a slightly moist substrate without ever staying soggy — let the surface dry between waterings. Excess water is the main cause of yellowing leaves, as with most tropical houseplants.
- Frequency: about once a week in spring-summer, every 2 to 3 weeks in winter.
- Water: at room temperature — Schefflera tolerates tap water well, unlike many tropical plants.
- Drainage: avoid stagnant water in the decorative pot — use a pot with drainage holes.
- Fertilizer: a liquid fertilizer for green plants diluted by half in spring, once a month.
- Pruning: can be pruned to maintain a compact and balanced shape — remove stems that are too long above a node.
If the leaves suddenly fall, it is almost always related to a change in environment or a draft — the Schefflera is very sensitive to movement and prefers stability once settled, as our article on common mistakes with indoor plants reminds us.
Decor ideas & plant pairings
The graphic and balanced silhouette of the Schefflera 'Gerda' makes it an ideal accent plant — its palmate leaflets create a very distinct texture that pairs well with broader or smoother foliage in a tropical composition inspired by the light-texture balance indoors.
- For a very graphic contrast of tropical textures, place the Schefflera 'Gerda' alongside a Monstera deliciosa and a Ficus elastica 'Abidjan' — the fine palmate leaflets of the Schefflera contrast with the large cut leaves of the Monstera and the broad, shiny foliage of the Ficus for a composition rich in textures.
- For a structured green office, pair it with a Sansevieria 'Laurentii' — the bushy and airy silhouette of Schefflera contrasts with the very vertical and architectural form of Sansevieria for a well-balanced duo between softness and structure.
- For a composition with varying heights, add a hanging Pothos above — the trailing stems of Pothos create an airy visual link between the Schefflera on the floor and the ceiling, and the two shiny green leafages naturally complement each other.
- In a rattan or matte white ceramic decorative pot, organic and soft materials naturally complement the lightness of the palmate foliage — choose a matte ceramic decorative pot without pattern to let the leaflet texture be the only graphic accent.
Verdeia tips
- Avoid moving the plant once placed: Schefflera is one of the most sensitive indoor plants to environmental changes — any movement, draft, or sudden temperature change causes almost immediate leaf drop, usually temporary if conditions stabilize.
- Prune overly long stems above a node in spring: Schefflera 'Gerda' tends to stretch toward the light — light pruning in spring encourages new lateral shoots and maintains a compact, bushy, and balanced shape that is much more decorative.
- Repot every 2 to 3 years in spring into a slightly larger pot: Schefflera is a medium to fast-growing plant that roots gradually — follow the steps in the indoor plant repotting guide to avoid stressing the plant.
Technical characteristics
- Botanical name: Schefflera arboricola 'Gerda'
- Common name: Umbrella tree, Octopus tree
- Family: Araliaceae
- Origin: Tropical regions of Asia and Oceania
- Dimensions at delivery: H35 cm | Pot Ø13 cm
- Growth habit: Upright, bushy, and balanced
- Exposure: Bright indirect light to partial shade
- Watering: Moderate, allow to dry slightly between waterings
- Temperature: 18 – 25 °C
- Care: Easy
- Toxicity: Slightly toxic to pets and children
- Decorative style: Graphic / Tropical / Contemporary
Each plant is unique: the photos show a representative example. The density and shape of the foliage naturally vary depending on the light and season.
Your plant, delivered with care
Every plant is hand-packed in a box specially designed for plants — secured, protected, ready to travel. It arrives in perfect condition, roots intact and foliage preserved, ready to take its place in your home.
Our Verdeia commitments
FAQ – Everything to know before adopting your Verdeia plant
How are my plants prepared before shipping?
All our plants are selected from our European partner nurseries. Before shipping, they are watered, cleaned, and protected with breathable, secure packaging. Each package is designed to ensure your plant arrives in perfect health, without any transport-related stress.
Will the plant look exactly like the photo?
The photos accurately represent the variety and the stated size. Since each plant is unique, slight differences in shape, foliage, or color may occur — and that’s part of their charm.
What are the delivery times and conditions?
Shipping is done within 48 business hours, with tracked delivery within 2 to 5 business days. Delivery costs €5.60 — free for orders over €50. You will receive a tracking link as soon as the package is shipped.
What to do upon receiving my plant?
Open your package as soon as you receive it and carefully remove the plant from its packaging. Let it acclimate for 24 hours in its new environment before watering. If it has been slightly stressed during transport, it will recover its shape after one or two days in the light.
What to do if my plant arrives damaged?
Contact us within 48 hours with a photo of the issue. Our team will assess the situation and offer you the best solution: replacement, partial refund, or recovery advice.
Can I return a plant?
Since plants are living beings, standard returns are not possible. However, we guarantee good health upon delivery: if the plant arrives damaged, it will be replaced free of charge. For any other cases (order error, decorative pot, accessory), returns are possible within 14 days.