Schefflera: 5 Successful Pairing Ideas
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Schefflera is primarily known as a houseplant; however, there are several hardy species that can withstand temperatures as low as -10 °C or even -15 °C, and can therefore be grown outdoors. This includes Schefflera taiwaniana, S. delavayi, and S. alpina. Schefflera forms a bush with an upright and airy habit, notable for its stunning palmate foliage. Its leaves are divided into long leaflets, giving it a very exotic appearance. In the garden, it thrives in shade or partial shade, in cool, humus-bearing, non-calcareous soil. It prefers to be sheltered from cold winds. It can easily be grown in a pot, adding charm to a terrace, patio, or courtyard. Here, we present our 5 best ideas for pairing it, according to your garden style and preferences!
And to ensure successful cultivation, feel free to consult our complete guide: “Outdoor Schefflera: planting, growing, and care”
In a jungle garden, with lush foliage
It’s the most obvious association with Schefflera! Its large, finely dissected palmate leaves instantly bring a very exotic style to the garden. Plant it alongside a Tetrapanax papyrifera and a Fatsia japonica, which feature the same fan-like foliage. Also consider the Japanese banana Musa basjoo, hardy down to -15 °C, or the red banana Ensete ventricosum, which is distinguished by its beautifully variegated red-purple leaves. Be cautious, as this one is rather tender (it tolerates down to -4 / -6 °C) and will need protection from the cold in winter. Create contrasts by incorporating the dark foliage of Colocasia ‘Black Magic’ or the red, pink, and bronze hues of Phormium ‘Pink Panther’ into this exotic scene. Also think about giant hostas, Astilboides tabularis, arisaemas, and Datisca cannabina, a monumental (and quite hardy) perennial with very dissected foliage. These exuberant leaves will be perfect for giving your garden a true tropical jungle feel!
Colocasia ‘Black Magic’ (photo: J. Rebel), Schefflera taiwaniana, Akebia quinata, Tetrapanax papyrifera ‘Rex’, Hosta ‘Empress Wu’ (photo: Guido) and Phormium ‘Pink Panther’
In a patio or an inner courtyard
The Schefflera adapts easily to city gardens and can be placed in a patio or courtyard, providing a shaded space sheltered from cold winds. Create a modern atmosphere by pairing Schefflera taiwaniana with graphic plants such as hostas, Japanese maples, Nandina domestica, and Choisya ternata. Discover the stunning silver fern Athyrium niponicum ‘Pewter Lace’. Place some grasses at the feet of the Schefflera and the maples, such as Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ or Carex oshimensis. You can also set up large pots in which you can grow bamboo or winter horsetail, Equisetum hyemale, which will add verticality and can serve as a “green curtain” to conceal a wall or fence.
Acer palmatum ‘Red Pygmy’, Schefflera taiwaniana (photo: Steve Law), Hosta ‘June’, Choisya ternata, Athyrium niponicum ‘Pewter Lace’, and Nandina domestica ‘Brightlight’
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Available in 1 sizes
Available in 1 sizes
Available in 1 sizes
In a Mediterranean garden
If you are fortunate enough to live in a region with a very mild climate, such as the Mediterranean coast, create an exotic dry-style garden with Schefflera, evoking sunshine and holidays. Additionally, this will allow you to grow less hardy varieties of Schefflera, such as Schefflera actinophylla for example. Plant it alongside palms, yuccas, cordylines, and agaves. For flowering, consider Kniphofias, Eucomis, Watsonia, agapanthes, and Osteospermum. This style of association will be perfect next to a pool, or simply along the edge of a terrace or garden lounge. And even if you live in a cooler climate, you can still create a garden in this Mediterranean style by opting for hardy plants: Schefflera delavayi, Yucca rostrata, Agave havardiana…
Kniphofia ‘Fiery Fred’, Schefflera actinophylla, Anigozanthos flavidus (photo: Forest & Kim Starr), Chamaerops humilis ‘Cerifera’, Osteospermum ‘Cape Daisy Terracotta’, and Agave americana ‘Variegata’
In a bed of warm tones
Create a beautiful exotic garden in warm tones by combining the lush foliage of Schefflera with vibrant flowers: yellow, orange, red… Enjoy the stunning flowering of the ornamental ginger, Hedychium gardnerianum, with its long yellow spikes enhanced by red stamens. It also boasts very beautiful lush foliage. Next to it, plant crocosmias, kniphofias, cannas, daylilies, and bidens. Consider the beautiful flowering of trumpet vines, with their flared trumpet-shaped flowers in red or orange. You can also incorporate plants with colourful foliage. For example, opt for Phormium ‘Pink Panther’, castor oil plant, hardy begonias ‘Angel Blush’ or ‘Angel Plum’, Carex ‘Bronze Form’…
Campsis grandiflora, Schefflera rhododendrifolia, Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ (photo: Vicky Brock), Canna striata, Bidens ‘Campfire Fireburst’ and Hedychium gardnerianum (photo: J.J. Harrison)
In a graphic garden
Schefflera has particularly graphic foliage, with palmate leaves divided into regular leaflets. It pairs beautifully with other carefully designed foliage, such as the fronds of the Asian fern Coniogramme emeiensis, the linear, golden, arching leaves of the grass Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’, or the dark, finely cut leaves of a black elder ‘Black Lace’. You can easily create a contemporary, understated, and sleek garden with these plants. Design beds with clean, well-defined edges, featuring carefully mown lawn areas, possibly crossed by stepping stones and bordered by trimmed bushes (Ilex crenata, Lonicera nitida…). You can plant a few bushes or perennials in large white or black pots, strategically placed on the terrace or at the entrance of the house. For colours, opt for subtle shades: green, white, and purple-black, while avoiding brightly coloured flowers. Consider, for example, the flowering of Agapanthus africanus ‘Albus’, Hydrangea paniculata ‘Skyfall’, and the white bark of the birch Betula utilis var. jacquemontii. Introduce a touch of lightness and contrast with the thread-like foliage of grasses: think of Miscanthus sinensis, Stipa tenuifolia, or Stipa pennata.
Coniogramme emeiensis, Schefflera taiwaniana, Agapanthus africanus ‘Albus’, Betula utilis var. jacquemontii ‘Doorenbos’ (photo: W. Cutler), Ilex crenata ‘Dark Green’ and Phyllostachys nigra
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