Ask the Gardener - "I have a schefflera that has been growing in a pot for many years..."

I have a schefflera that has been growing in a pot for many years that is getting too tall for inside my house. Can I plant it outside?
Schefflera actinophylla, commonly called Queensland umbrella tree, is a tropical plant that is completely hardy only in sheltered spots in USDA Zone 9B and above. It is commonly seen in southern Florida landscapes and the occasional specimen may be spotted in protected locations within downtown Houston and Galveston.