鵝掌柴屬常綠喬木，原產爪哇、新幾內亞至澳洲熱帶氣候區。樹高可達15m。主幹直立，側枝較少。互生掌狀複葉；橢圓形小葉7~16片，小葉長10~25cm，寬4~10cm。枝端伸出5~12條紅色放射狀的總狀花序，深紅色花微小，全花序開花可達上千朵。果實深紅色。開花結果期夏至秋季。

An evergreen tree in the genus Schefflera, native to Java, New Guinea to Australia's tropical regions. Tree height up to 15 m. Trunk erect with few lateral branches. Leaves alternate and palmately compound, 7-16 oval leaflets 10-25 cm long and 4-10 cm wide each. 5-12 red radial racemes protruding from the branch tips and containing up to 1,000 tiny red flowers. Fruit dark red. Flowering and fruiting from summer to autumn.

適合全日照至半日照溫暖環境，高濕度可促進生長。幼樹具有較強的耐陰性。每季施用一次長效性肥料。一般不需要休剪。繁殖採用扦插與空中壓條法。

It suitably grows in full-sun to partial-sun, warm environments and thrives best in high humidity. Saplings are highly shade-tolerant. Apply Long-active fertilizers once a season. Pruning is generally not required. Propagated by cuttings and air layering.

優良的小型庭園樹，可用大型盆缽種植或露地栽培。在庭園種植需選擇避風的位置以免大型的葉片被強風吹折。

The tree is an excellent small garden tree, also can be planted in large containers or in an open field. For garden plantation, choose a sheltered position to protect the large blades from strong winds.