False aralia (Dizygotheca elegantissima), also known as spider aralia or threadleaf aralia, is grown for its attractive foliage. The long, narrow, dark green leaves with saw-tooth edges are coppery colored at first, but as they mature they turn dark green, appearing almost black on some plants. The false aralia was recently reclassified from the Dizygotheca genus and renamed Schefflera elegantissima, making it a relative of the popular Schefflera plants. Whatever their name, they have earned their position as a popular houseplant. Schefflera elegantissima have beautifully textured foliage, with deeply serrated leaflets and dimpled petioles and stems. The juvenile plants tend to have more textured foliage, while the adult leaves are more deeply lobed. As far as their performance goes, they are tolerably easy to grow. They need at least moderate humidity to do their best and prefer a narrow range of moisture. Plants that are too dry tend to drop leaves. They like bright, but not necessarily direct sunlight. Older plants have handsome brown foliage, and the leaf color is affected by overall light levels. False aralia prefer a steady supply of adequate moisture and are somewhat picky about it. Good drainage is essential to growing the best plant possible, but don't overwater.