Bring home the beauty of the Hawaiian Umbrella Bonsai—an eye-catching tree known for its glossy leaves and graceful style.
The Hawaiian Umbrella bonsai—Schefflera arboricola—is also called the Hawaiian umbrella tree. Even though it has “Hawaiian” in its name, this plant actually comes from Taiwan.
This bonsai stands out because of its unique leaves. They look like little “helicopter” blades and grow in a circle around the stem, making the plant look neat and eye-catching.
In warm and humid weather, this tropical bonsai can grow special roots from its branches called aerial roots. These roots hang down and help form a strong base, especially in banyan-style bonsai designs. This look is similar to the Ficus, another tropical bonsai tree.
There are two main types of Hawaiian Umbrella bonsai that are great for bonsai growing:
● Arboricola
● Louisiana
The main difference between these two types is the size of their leaves. The Louisiana variety has smaller leaves, which makes it extra good for bonsai. Both types grow well with the same kind of care.
Propagation
Hawaiian Umbrella trees are great for bonsai lovers because they’re easy to grow from root cuttings.
You can take a stem cutting from a healthy plant, and it will grow into a new bonsai.
If you cut any part of the plant (except just a leaf) and place it in a humid place like perlite, it will grow roots and start growing really well.
You don’t need to use air layering to grow this bonsai, but you can try it if the cut is about the size of a golf ball.
Requirements for Growing a Hawaiian Umbrella Bonsai
Location
Hawaiian Umbrella Bonsai grows best with full morning sun but should be protected from strong afternoon sunlight.
In hot weather, they may close their leaves to protect themselves from too much sun. Too much sun in late summer or fall can turn the leaves yellow or too bright.
Using a shade cloth that blocks 30–50% of the sunlight can help protect the tree. More shade also raises humidity, which can help the tree grow aerial roots and bigger leaves.
When changing the amount of shade, think about how the leaves are growing and how you want your tree to look.
Watering
The Hawaiian Umbrella Bonsai likes its soil to stay moist and should not be allowed to dry out. In winter, water it less often, but if it’s near a heater, make sure the roots don’t dry out.
Temperature
Hawaiian Umbrella Bonsai are tropical trees and should be kept away from temperatures below 40°F.
For the best growth, they need nighttime temperatures to stay above 60°F. Warm nights help them grow well and support healthy growth during the day too.
Fertilizer
From spring to autumn, use liquid fertilizer once a week, following the instructions on the label. In winter, use it only once a month. In summer, you can also use solid organic fertilizer.
Pruning and wiring
Dwarf Umbrella Bonsai trees grow well with careful pruning. New shoots grow in the same direction as the leaf just below the cut. If the tree is very healthy, you can remove its leaves and trim the twig tips at the same time. This helps the tree grow more branches and smaller leaves. The tree doesn’t have hardwood, so its trunk and branches can break easily if you try to bend them too much. Younger shoots are softer and can be shaped with wire more safely.
Repotting
Repot the tree every two years in spring. Be gentle with the soft roots, as they break easily. Use regular bonsai soil.
Pests and diseases
Hawaiian Umbrella Bonsai rarely has problems with pests or diseases.
However, young trees with new growth and no calluses can sometimes have trouble with aphids.
