How to prune schefflera

Early spring. Cut stems back to just above a leaf node or a lateral branch using clean, sharp pruners. For a leggy plant, cut back up to half the stem length; new buds will break from nodes below the cut. Remove any dead, crossing, or inward-growing shoots entirely.

Annually for shaping; hard prune every 2-3 years if needed. Schefflera responds well to pruning and can become a full, bushy plant with regular cuts. Left unpruned it grows tall and sparse. Cut stems back to a node to trigger branching. It tolerates hard renovation pruning if it has become very leggy. Spring is the best window, though light shaping can be done year-round.

Cut stems back to just above a leaf node or a lateral branch using clean, sharp pruners. For a leggy plant, cut back up to half the stem length; new buds will break from nodes below the cut. Remove any dead, crossing, or inward-growing shoots entirely.