African Iris

Elephant Bush

About African Iris and Elephant Bush

African Iris

Elephant Bush

Add ⊕

What is

Life Span

Perennial

Type

Tender Perennial

Succulent

Origin

Southern Africa

Types

Perennial

Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta

Number of Varieties

5030

0 40000

👆🏻

Habitat

Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions

Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas

USDA Hardiness Zone

8-1010-12

0 99

👆🏻

AHS Heat Zone

10-8

10-1

Sunset Zone

H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

Habit

Clump-Forming

Twisted/Contorted

Information

Plant Size

Minimum Height

61.30 cm250.00 cm

0 3900

👆🏻

Minimum Width

30.50 cm121.00 cm

0 6350

👆🏻

Plant Color

Flower Color

Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown

Pink

Flower Color Modifier

Bicolor

Fruit Color

Green, Brown

Green, Red

Leaf Color in Spring

Green, Gray Green

Green

Leaf Color in Summer

Green, Gray Green

Green

Leaf Color in Fall

Green, Gray Green

Green

Leaf Color in Winter

Light Green

Green

Shape

Leaf Shape

Grass like

Succulent

Thorns

✔ ✘

Season

Plant Season

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Growing Conditions

Sunlight

Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade

Growth Rate

Medium

Fast

Type of Soil

Clay, Loam, Sand

Loam, Sand

The pH of Soil

Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline

Soil Drainage

Average

Well drained

Bloom Time

Indeterminate

Late Spring

Repeat Bloomer

✔ ✘

Tolerances

Drought

Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance

Care

Where to Plant?

Container, Ground, Pot

How to Plant?

Rhizome division, Seedlings

Seedlings, Stem Planting

Plant Maintenance

Medium

Low

Watering Plants

Watering Requirements

Requires regular watering

Average Water Needs, Needs less watering

In Summer

Lots of watering

Ample Water

In Spring

Moderate

Less Watering

In Winter

Average Water

Less Watering

Soil

Soil pH

Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline

Soil Type

Clay, Loam, Sand

Loam, Sand

Soil Drainage Capacity

Average

Well drained

Sun Exposure

Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade

Pruning

Remove dead leaves

Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts

Fertilizers

Any balanced general purpose fertilizer

All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter

Pests and Diseases

Nematodes, Scale

Pests and diseases free

Plant Tolerance

Drought

Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance

Facts

Flowers

Showy

Flower Petal Number

Single

Fruits

Showy Fruit

✔ ✘

Edible Fruit

✔ ✘

Fragrance

Fragrant Flower

✔ ✘

Fragrant Fruit

✔ ✘

Fragrant Leaf

✔ ✘

Fragrant Bark/Stem

✔ ✘

Showy Foliage

✔ ✘

Showy Bark

✔ ✘

Foliage Texture

Medium

Bold

Foliage Sheen

Matte

Evergreen

✔ ✘

Invasive

✔ ✘

Self-Sowing

✔ ✘

Attracts

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Butterflies

Allergy

Skin irritation

Benefits

Uses

Aesthetic Uses

Showy Purposes

Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes

Beauty Benefits

Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems

Edible Uses

✔ ✘

Environmental Uses

Ethnobotanic

Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife

Plant Benefits

Medicinal Uses

Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat

Part of Plant Used

Root

Leaves, Stem

Other Uses

Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant

Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads

Used As Indoor Plant

✔ ✘

Used As Outdoor Plant

✔ ✘

Garden Design

Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens

Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical

Scientific Name

Botanical Name

DIETES bicolor

PORTULACARIA afra

Common Name

African iris, Fortnight lily

Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom

In Hindi

African Iris

Elephant Bush

In German

Afrikanische Iris

Elephant Bush

In French

African Iris

Elephant Bush

In Spanish

Iris africano

elefante Bush

In Greek

Αφρικανική Iris

ελέφαντας Μπους

In Portuguese

Iris africano

elefante de Bush

In Polish

Afryki Iris

Elephant Bush

In Latin

African Iris

bush elephant

Classification

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Magnoliophyta

Embryophyta

Class

Magnoliopsida

Order

Asparagales

Caryophyllales

Family

Iridaceae

Portulacaceae

Genus

Dietes

Portulacaria

Clade

Angiosperms, Monocots

Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots

Tribe

Irideae

Subfamily

Iridoideae

Portulacarioideae

Number of Species

3001

1 27800

👆🏻

Properties of African Iris and Elephant Bush

Wondering what are the properties of African Iris and Elephant Bush? We provide you with everything About African Iris and Elephant Bush. African Iris doesn't have thorns and Elephant Bush doesn't have thorns. Also African Iris does not have fragrant flowers. African Iris has allergic reactions like Skin irritation and Elephant Bush has allergic reactions like Skin irritation. Compare all the properties and characteristics of these two plants. Find out which of these plant can be used as indoor plant. If you are interested to decorate your house and garden, find out aesthetic uses, compare them and select the plant which will beautify your surrounding. Along with beautification, try comparing medicinal and edible uses of African Iris and Elephant Bush and you can choose the plant having best and most benefits.

Compare Bulb Plants » More

African Iris and Sternbergia Lutea

African Iris and Sinningia

African Iris and Siberian Squill

» More Compare Bulb Plants

Season and Care of African Iris and Elephant Bush

Season and care of African Iris and Elephant Bush is important to know. While considering everything about African Iris and Elephant Bush Care, growing season is an essential factor. African Iris season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Elephant Bush season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for African Iris is Clay, Loam, Sand and for Elephant Bush is Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for African Iris is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline and for Elephant Bush is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline.

African Iris and Elephant Bush Physical Information

African Iris and Elephant Bush physical information is very important for comparison. African Iris height is 61.30 cm and width 30.50 cm whereas Elephant Bush height is 250.00 cm and width 121.00 cm. The color specification of African Iris and Elephant Bush are as follows:

African Iris flower color: Yellow, Light Yellow and Brown
African Iris leaf color: Green and Gray Green
Elephant Bush flower color: Pink
Elephant Bush leaf color: Green

Care of African Iris and Elephant Bush

Care of African Iris and Elephant Bush include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. African Iris pruning is done Remove dead leaves and Elephant Bush pruning is done Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves and Remove dead or diseased plant parts. In summer African Iris needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Elephant Bush needs Ample Water and in winter, it needs Less Watering.