Chinese Umbrella Tree

[GSF]

Has anyone ever heard of a Chinese umbrella tree? I was over at a friend's place yesterday evening. I thought at first glance I was looking at a cucumber magnolia but then I realized it wasn't. He said they were Chinese Umbrella Trees. He said you wouldn't believe the bumble bees that covered the blooms. It was like an addiction, he could lay his hand on them and was totally ignored. That fascinated him.

Anyway he said they grow very easy and offered to give me all I wanted.

[Dallasbeek]

If it's a schefflera actinophyllia, it's invasive in Hawaii.  It's a tropical plant.  Does this grow in Alabama?  I don't know your USDA zone, but it could become a weed.  I've grown it here indoors, but it wouldn't survive in Dallas outdoors.  Maybe in deep south Texas, where I've grown papayas.  It's an attractive houseplant, but I've never seen it bloom.  Has long strings of flowers (racimes), producing seeds spread by birds, which is why it's a weed in Hawaii.  I'm leery of any plant that can spread like that where it's not native, since it can crowd out native species.

[jayj200]

this one might be illegal in Florida as are the ficus and Malaluca

[GSF]

We're not sure of the specifics about it, but it is a 50' tree, and he said they come up everywhere.

[Dallasbeek]

The problem is common names.  A plant may be called one thing one place and another thing elsewhere, while the name for it in he first place is used for an entirely different plant in a third place.  There are some good plant identification sites at Texas A&M's website and Florida (Florida State's?) website.  I guess all the ag schools, and they have links to one another.  I'm terrible on plant identification.  I always just ask my wife.