Kauaʻi record · kba_plant_schefflera_actinophylla
Octopus tree
Heptapleurum actinophyllum
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About Octopus tree
Kew currently accepts Heptapleurum actinophyllum and treats Schefflera actinophylla as a synonym. The Australian-New Guinean ornamental is introduced and naturalized in Hawaiʻi, where bird-dispersed seeds move from landscapes into moist forest and can also germinate epiphytically. NTBG herbarium data document the taxon on Kauaʻi, supporting island presence while leaving current extent to survey data. Bishop Museum’s 2025 checklist documents naturalized presence on Kauaʻi; current extent remains unassessed.
Kauaʻi evidence
Bishop Museum 2025 Checklist wide: Taxon=Heptapleurum actinophyllum; Status=nat; K=K. Identification and ecological statements have the separately linked reviewed sources. The checklist establishes documented island presence; it does not establish current abundance or invasion extent.
Names and classification
- Scientific name
- Heptapleurum actinophyllum
- Common names
- Octopus tree
- Other names
- Schefflera actinophylla · Heptapleurum actinophyllum · Brassaia actinophylla · Octopus tree · umbrella tree
- Family
- Araliaceae
- Order
- Apiales
- Record type
- Species or taxonomic group
Kauaʻi occurrence and status
- Kauaʻi occurrence
- Recorded on Kauaʻi
- Origin
- Introduced
- Conservation status
- Conservation priority; formal rank not listed
- Evidence date
- 2026-10-05
- Evidence limits
- Current extent and population trajectory require refreshed surveys; public occurrence is island level only.
Habitat and ecology
- Habitats
- Lowland mesic/wet disturbed forest · Urban edges
- Food and resource needs
- Light, water, nutrients, and suitable soil or substrate
- Reproduction
- Viable propagules and suitable establishment conditions
- Shelter
- Suitable soil, substrate, and vegetation structure
- Growth form
- Tree
Threats and conservation
- Threats
- Invasive tree pressure
- Conservation actions
- Remove fruiting trees near sensitive habitat
- Monitoring
- Remove fruiting trees near sensitive habitat
- Data gaps
- Additional ecological and conservation citations are recommended
Process and seasonal context
- Seasonal timing
- Not assessed
- Seasonal description
- Kew currently accepts Heptapleurum actinophyllum and treats Schefflera actinophylla as a synonym. The Australian-New Guinean ornamental is introduced and naturalized in Hawaiʻi, where bird-dispersed seeds move from landscapes into moist forest and can also germinate epiphytically. NTBG herbarium data document the taxon on Kauaʻi, supporting island presence while leaving current extent to survey data. Bishop Museum’s 2025 checklist documents naturalized presence on Kauaʻi; current extent remains unassessed.
Sources and further reading
- https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Schefflera_actinophylla_-_Puerto_de_la_Cruz,_Tenerife.jpg
- https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn%3Alsid%3Aipni.org%3Anames%3A77213393-1/general-information
- https://ntbg.org/database/herbarium/detail/PTBG1000049932
- https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn%3Alsid%3Aipni.org%3Anames%3A77213393-1
- https://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/publications/pdf/tr75.pdf
- https://www.kauaiisc.org/invasive-plants/do-not-plant-list/
