Shield aralia

Shield aralia: how do you recognise it?

Growth habit

Evergreen shrub with upright, woody stems, about 1.5 m tall and 80 cm wide indoors.

Leaves

Compound, usually with three round to kidney-shaped, shield-like leaflets of about 5–10 cm, glossy green. Variegated cultivars have a white or cream edge.

Stems

Slender and grey-brown, marked with scars of old leaves; they become woody over the years.

Flower

It almost never flowers indoors; it is grown for its foliage.

Sap

The sap and leaves contain saponins: toxic if eaten and sometimes irritating to the skin.

Plants: March–April · Pruning: March–April

Why grow it?

• Elegant, glossy foliage with round, shield-shaped leaflets; also available variegated.
• An evergreen, woody shrub that gives a bright corner a tropical, tree-like look.
• Compact and upright: it takes up little space.
• Easy to prune into a well-branched shrub.
• Can be propagated from cuttings in a warm, humid environment.

Shield aralia: where does it grow best?

• Bright light without strong midday sun: a spot near an east- or west-facing window or some distance from a south-facing one. Variegated cultivars need slightly more light.
• Airy, humus-rich potting compost with about a fifth of perlite; slightly acid to neutral and free-draining.
• Warm and even: 18–24 °C and never below 15 °C.
• A humidity of 50–60 % or more. Keep it out of draughts and away from radiators and move it as little as possible.

Light

Bright, out of direct sun

Potting soil

Multi-purpose compost or airy, humus-rich compost

Acidity

Acid or neutral

Watering

Moderately

Size

1.5 m tall, 0.8 m wide

Temperature

Minimum 15 °C

Goes well with

• Calathea: Likes the same warmth and humid air, with a striking leaf pattern.
• Ferns: Fine, soft foliage in the same light shade.
• Philodendron: Large, glossy leaves as a contrast to the small, round leaflets.
• Dragon tree (Dracaena): An upright plant for the same warm, bright spot.

Shield aralia: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–April.

1. Repot in March–April, about every 2 years or as soon as the roots fill the pot.
2. Wear gloves: the sap can irritate the skin.
3. Choose a sturdy pot with drainage holes, one size larger than the last: it can become top-heavy.
4. Use airy potting compost with a fifth of perlite and put a layer of clay pebbles at the bottom.
5. Set the plant at the same depth as before, fill in and firm gently. Water with lukewarm water and put it back in the same bright spot, out of draughts.

Care

Water

Let the top 2–3 cm dry out between waterings. Water with lukewarm, preferably low-lime water until it runs out of the holes and empty the saucer. Both drought and wet feet cause leaf drop.

Feeding

From March to September every 2–4 weeks, half a dose of houseplant feed. Not in winter.

Humidity

It likes humid air: put a tray of damp clay pebbles next to the plant or mist the leaves with lukewarm water now and then.

Fixed spot

It likes a fixed spot and an even temperature. Frequent moving, draughts or cold swings cause leaf drop.

Leaves

Dust the leaves with a damp cloth (wear gloves) so that they catch the light well.

Tip: It wants bright light without strong sun, warmth and an even temperature. Let the top layer of compost dry out, give it a fixed spot and wear gloves when pruning: in a draught or dry air it drops its leaves.

Shield aralia: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March–April.

When: In March–April, before new growth starts. Small corrections can be made all year round.

How:

• Wear gloves and cut with clean, sharp scissors just above a node.
• Cut stems that are too long or bare back to the height you want: new side shoots grow below the cut.
• Remove dead, crossing and yellow branches to keep the shrub airy.
• Use the cut-off tips as cuttings.

Caution: The sap can irritate the skin and the plant is toxic: wear gloves and wash your hands and the tool after pruning. Do not prune in the dark winter months.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Stem cuttings

From April to July: cut a piece of 10–15 cm from a semi-ripe stem with 2–3 leaves and remove the bottom leaf. Put the cutting in moist, airy cutting compost under a clear lid at 22–25 °C. Rooting takes a few weeks to months: keep the cutting warm, bright and moist.

Shield aralia: how does it get through the winter?

• Not hardy: the minimum temperature is 15 °C. It overwinters indoors in a warm room.
• Keep it bright, at 16–20 °C, away from draughts, cold windows and radiators: cold causes leaf drop.
• Water slightly less: the top layer may dry out a little further, but never the whole rootball. Do not feed from October to February inclusive.
• Keep the humidity up with a tray of clay pebbles or a humidifier.

Diseases and pests

• Leaf drop: Usually caused by draughts, cold, being moved or dry air, or by drying out or wet feet. Choose a fixed, warm spot out of draughts and water evenly.
• Brown leaf edges and limp leaves: Dry air, hard water or drying out. Raise the humidity, use rainwater or low-lime water and water more regularly.
• Spider mites, thrips and scale insects: Fine webbing (spider mites), silvery flecks (thrips) or brown shields under the leaves in dry air. Rinse the plant, wipe the leaves clean with soapy water, raise the humidity and repeat weekly.
• Yellow leaves and root rot: Too much water. Let the compost dry out, check that the roots are firm and white and repot in fresh, airy compost if needed.

Through the year

• January: Rest: bright and warm, 16–20 °C, sparing with water.
• February: Rest. Keep away from radiators and draughts.
• March: Prune and repot (wearing gloves). Water a little more again.
• April: Repotting still possible. Start feeding (half dose). Take cuttings.
• May: Growth: water regularly and keep the air humid.
• June: Growth. Take cuttings. Feed every 2–4 weeks.
• July: Growth. Shade from strong midday sun.
• August: Growth. Check for spider mites.
• September: Last feed.
• October: Stop feeding. Water less. Do not move it any more.
• November: Rest: warm, bright and out of draughts.
• December: Rest. Keep the humidity up.

Edible and useful

Not edible. The leaves and sap of shield aralia contain saponins: cats and dogs that chew them may drool, vomit and get diarrhoea, and the sap can irritate the skin. In its Pacific homeland the young leaves are eaten cooked, but that is no reason to eat your houseplant: do not let children chew it. Keep the plant out of reach of children and pets, wear gloves when pruning and repotting, and wash your hands afterwards. If any is swallowed, call a poison centre (in Belgium 070 245 245) or your doctor at once.

Did you know?

• It belongs to the aralia family (Araliaceae), like ivy and ginseng.
• The species name scutellaria comes from the Latin scutella, ‘small dish’ or ‘small shield’, after the round, shield-shaped leaflets.
• Polyscias are known for dropping leaves after a move or in a draught: a fixed spot helps.