Dwarf Leaf Hawaiian Umbrella Bonsai Tree (Schefflera arboricola)
Scientific Name: Schefflera arboricola
Difficulty Level: Easy
Best For: Beginners, gift-giving, indoor bonsai, homes, offices, and anyone who wants a forgiving first bonsai
Some bonsai are beautiful but fussy. The Dwarf Leaf Hawaiian Umbrella is beautiful and refreshingly easy to live with. Known botanically as Schefflera arboricola, this tropical bonsai has glossy green foliage, a cheerful tropical feel, and one of the most beginner-friendly personalities in the bonsai world.
If you are looking for a bonsai that feels approachable from day one, this is it. The Hawaiian Umbrella is one of those trees that makes people think, “Okay, I can do this.” It is easy to enjoy, rewarding to care for, and a great choice for someone just getting started.
Why People Love This Tree
The Hawaiian Umbrella is popular because it is forgiving, attractive, and far less intimidating than many other bonsai species. It handles indoor conditions well, responds nicely to pruning, and gives beginners a real chance to succeed.
It also has a fun, tropical character that feels a little more relaxed and approachable than some of the more formal bonsai varieties. That makes it especially popular as a gift, a desk tree, or a first bonsai for someone who wants something easy to enjoy.
Basic Care
Light: Bright light is best. Indoors, place it near a bright window with strong indirect or filtered light.
Watering: Water thoroughly when the soil begins to dry slightly near the surface. Do not allow the tree to sit in standing water for long periods.
Temperature: This is a tropical tree. It can be grown indoors year-round, but many growers move it outdoors during warm weather once nighttime temperatures are consistently above about 55–60°F. Bring it back indoors before cool nights return.
Humidity: Like many tropical bonsai, it appreciates reasonable humidity, especially indoors. A humidity tray can be a helpful addition in drier environments.
Pruning: This species grows actively and responds well to trimming, which makes it enjoyable for beginners who want to learn basic bonsai maintenance.
Why Buy This Tree from Bonsai Outlet
Bonsai is all we do. That matters. A Hawaiian Umbrella may be easy to care for, but buying from a bonsai-focused company still gives you a better starting point. We understand the species, how it should be cared for, and which accessories will actually help you succeed. For a first bonsai, that confidence can matter more than saving a few dollars somewhere else.
Why Purchase This Tree
The Hawaiian Umbrella Bonsai is one of the safest and most giftable choices in the beginner bonsai category. It has tropical charm, easy-care appeal, and a low-stress personality that makes people feel successful instead of overwhelmed.
If you are choosing between tropical bonsai trees, this is one of the most dependable first choices you can make. It is not just easy. It is easy to enjoy.
Recommended Add-Ons
To help your tree thrive, we recommend Bonsai Thrive 180 plant food for regular feeding during active growth, a pair of bonsai shears for trimming and shaping since this species grows quickly and responds well to pruning, and a humidity tray for indoor growing, especially in drier homes.
Available Sizes
Petite: approximately 3–4 years old and 5–8 inches tall
Medium: approximately 4–5 years old and 7–10 inches tall
Large: approximately 7 years old and 10–14 inches tall
Important Note
These trees are offered as ONLINE-ONLY items. While we may have some of these species at the nursery in Bellingham, these listings are intended for online purchase only. To keep prices more affordable, the trees in this category are not individually photographed. The photos shown are representative, and each tree will vary naturally in shape, branching, and pot. Pot color, size, and shape may differ from the examples shown.
Love the Hawaiian Umbrella, but in a different shape or style? Take a look at our Bonsai Trees or Indoor Bonsai Tree Selection.
Please Read Before Purchasing
This tree is sold as a representative example of the size and quality shown. Each tree is unique, and natural variation in shape, branching, and pot should be expected. If you have questions about care, placement, or what to expect, please ask before purchasing. We are happy to help.
Learning Resources and Bonsai Tree Care Guides:
Bonsai trees are not all the same - and neither is their care. Read our specific care sheets for individual bonsai species. Read the Bonsai Care Guides
Shipping Bonsai Trees:
Bonsai trees are generally shipped on Mondays & Tuesdays to avoid having them stay in the boxes for any extra time over the weekends.
Shipping Non-Tree Items
All non-bonsai items such as bonsai pots and bonsai supplies are shipped within 48 hours of receiving payment. Most orders are shipped either the same day or the next day, depending on the time of day the order is received.
Important Guidelines:
** We cannot ship to a FPO, APO, P.O. Box or to locations in Alaska, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hawaii or anywhere internationally.
** All Bonsai are shipped direct from the nursery and may ship separately from other items purchased via the Bonsai Outlet.
** If extreme weather is expected, we may delay shipping your Bonsai tree to guarantee a healthy arrival; in such a case we will contact you. We are shipping living trees and must be conscious of the temperature conditions to the delivery address, as well as, while in transit. That said, we reserve the right to hold the tree(s) to guarantee a healthy delivery. We will Hold Your Tree Until It is Safe to Ship.
