Arboricola Hedges and Shrubs, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Arboricola, also called dwarf schefflera, is a fast, glossy tropical shrub that does well in Southwest Florida in sun or part shade and makes a quick privacy hedge or screen. It tops out around 6 to 10 ft and takes shearing well. We carry plain green Arboricola and the cream-and-green Trinette, and we deliver, plant and water them in.
- Light:
- Full sun to part shade; variegated Trinette likes a little afternoon shade
- Water:
- Moderate; steady moisture while establishing
- Salt:
- Moderate; fine behind a first row of coastal plants, not in direct spray
Arboricola sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Variety or form | Sizes | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Arboricola Green | 3 Gallon, 7 Gallon | The plain glossy green form in 3 and 7 gallon, the better pick for a solid privacy hedge or tall screen. |
| Arboricola Trinette | 3 Gallon | A cream-and-green variegated form in 3 gallon, used as an accent or to brighten a partly shaded bed. |
Arboricola in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 6 to 10 ft tall, 4 to 6 ft wide, easy to keep lower with shearing
- Light
- Full sun to part shade; variegated Trinette likes a little afternoon shade
- Water
- Moderate; steady moisture while establishing
- Salt tolerance
- Moderate; fine behind a first row of coastal plants, not in direct spray
- Cold tolerance
- Leaves burn around 30°F; coastal Lee is usually fine, cover plants inland on frost nights
- Growth rate
- Moderate to fast
- Spacing
- 3 to 4 ft apart for a hedge
- Florida native
- No, native to Taiwan
- Botanical name
- Schefflera arboricola
Where Arboricola works in a SW Florida yard
Arboricola gives a tropical look without much fuss. Use the green form as a clean privacy hedge along a fence, as screening around AC units and pool equipment, or as a mid-height backdrop for lower plants. Plant Trinette where a bright, cream-edged accent helps, such as a partly shaded corner or the front of a green hedge.
Set the row 3 to 4 ft from walls and fences so you can trim both sides. Bromeliads, ti plants and ixora make good companions because they share its warm, humid look.
- Privacy hedge
- Screening for AC and pool equipment
- Tropical mass planting
- Variegated accent color
How our crew plants it
For a hedge, spacing sets the pace: 3 to 4 ft apart, closer if you want a solid screen sooner. Each hole is twice as wide as the root ball and no deeper, with the top of the root ball level with or just above the soil. Our crew backfills with native sand, waters each plant in and cleans up.
Mulch 2 to 3 inches deep without piling it against the stems. New plants can be watered extra under Lee and Collier rules until roots take hold.
Care after planting
- Shear lightly two or three times a year in the growing season; it tolerates hard cutting, but frequent light trims keep a hedge dense from the bottom.
- Fertilize with a slow-release shrub food in spring and early fall, and plan around the June 1 to September 30 nitrogen and phosphorus ban in Lee County, Naples and Marco Island.
- Once established, your two assigned watering days plus rain are usually enough, but avoid low spots that stay soggy in the rainy season.
- Keep mulch pulled back from the stems, and cover young plants on frost nights if you are inland.
What to watch for
- Spider mites show up in hot, dry spells as fine stippling and webbing, and scale and mealybugs leave sticky honeydew and black sooty mold, so check the undersides of leaves often.
- The leaves contain calcium oxalate and can irritate the mouth of a pet or child who chews them.
Arboricola questions we hear
Does arboricola make a good hedge in Southwest Florida?+
Yes. It grows moderately fast, takes shearing well and fills in thick in sun or part shade, topping out around 6 to 10 ft. Cold is its weak spot: leaves can burn around 30°F, so it fits coastal yards better than the coldest inland pockets.
How far apart should I plant arboricola for a hedge?+
Plan on 3 to 4 ft apart. Three feet gives a solid screen sooner with 3 gallon plants, while 4 ft works for 7 gallon plants that already have more body. Leave room behind the row so you can reach both sides with the trimmer.
What is the difference between Arboricola Green and Trinette?+
Green has solid glossy leaves and suits a plain privacy hedge. Trinette has cream and green variegated leaves and works as an accent or in a brighter, partly shaded corner. Green comes in 3 and 7 gallon, and Trinette comes in 3 gallon.
Is arboricola salt tolerant?+
Moderately. It does fine in yards a block or more back from open water, and behind a tougher first row of plants on canal lots. Direct salt spray at the water's edge will burn the leaves, so use a more salt-tolerant hedge there.
How fast does arboricola grow?+
Moderate to fast, and the rainy season is when it pushes the most new growth. With regular water, a hedge of 3 gallon plants knits together in a season or two, and 7 gallon plants close the gaps sooner.
How much does it cost to plant an arboricola hedge?+
That depends on the plant size, the length of the hedge and how easy the planting line is to reach, so we text a planted price. Send the footage and the sizes you like and expect a reply within the hour during the day.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Arboricola
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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