Schefflera Amate
Schefflera actinophylla 'Amate' — The Bold Palmate Floor Plant
Light
Medium to bright light — needs good light year-round; window placement is essential in GTA offices.
Water
Yellowing, browning, or drooping leaves = overwatering or nutrient deficiency.
Humidity
Prefers moderate to high humidity. Leaf edges brown in dry winter heating.
Temperature
18–27°C (65–80°F). Keep away from cold drafts and heating vents.
Difficulty
Moderate
Sizes
Tabletop (under 5 ft) · Mid-floor (around 6.5 ft) · Floor specimen (8 ft+)
Umbrella tree, Schefflera actinophylla 'Amate', carries bold, palmate leaves — shaped like an open hand — on upright stems, typically reaching 1.5–2.5m indoors. The 'Amate' cultivar used here is bred specifically for interiors, with glossier leaves and better pest resistance than the seed-grown version.
In the Office
It needs good light year-round, and in GTA offices that usually means placement near a window — this isn't a plant for a windowless room. Watch for yellowing, browning or drooping leaves, which point to overwatering or a nutrient deficiency rather than a light problem. Growth slows in winter but doesn't stop entirely, and it scales from a tabletop plant up to a full floor specimen over 2.4m.
Why Choose This Plant
Benefits for Your Office
- Bold, hand-shaped leaves give strong visual structure, from tabletop size up to a full floor specimen
- The 'Amate' cultivar is bred for interior use, with better pest resistance than seed-grown versions
- Scales across three sizes, so it works as a desk plant or a statement floor piece
- Keeps growing through the year, with only a slowdown, not a stop, in winter
Where to Place It
Office Placement Ideas
- 1
Beside windows in open-plan offices, where the good year-round light it needs is available
- 2
Lobbies and reception areas as a full floor specimen, for a bold, structural presence
- 3
Boardrooms with natural light, where the palmate leaves read well as a backdrop on video calls
How to Care for It
Care Tips for Office Environments
- Propagate new plants from stem cuttings taken just above a node
- Check stems and the undersides of leaves regularly for scale insects and spider mites
- If leaves start dropping, check for overwatering or a recent, sudden change in light first
- Watch for dark, water-soaked patches on leaves — that's bacterial leaf spot, treated by removing affected leaves and improving airflow
Want Schefflera Amate in your office?
Our team will recommend the right variety and size for your space, deliver and install it, and keep it thriving with ongoing care.