Life Span
Perennial
  
Annual and Perennial
  
Type
Succulent
  
Shrub
  
Origin
Southern Africa
  
Central America, South America
  
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
  
Dry areas, Well Drained, Woodlands
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-12
  
9-11
  
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
  
Not Available
  
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Not Available
  
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
  
Thicket/Colonizing
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Pink
  
Pink
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Green, Red
  
Red
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Light Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Light Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Light Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
  
Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Succulent
  
Oval
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Medium
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Spring
  
Spring, Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
  
Cuttings, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Low
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
  
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
  
In Summer
Ample Water
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Less Watering
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Less Watering
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Dry, Sandy
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun
  
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
In Early Autumn, Prune in winter, Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
  
Complete balanced fertilizer, iron-rich fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
  
Aphids, Red blotch, Whiteflies
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
  
Wind
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Yes
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Bold
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Butterflies
  
Bees, Birds, Butterflies, pollinators
  
Allergy
no allergic reactions
  
Pollen
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
  
Good for skin
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
  
Air purification, Food for birds, Nesting sites for birds, Windbreak
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
  
Antioxidants, Arthritis, Diarrhea, Dysentry, Fertility, Fever, Inflammation, Kidney problems, scurvy, Urinary tract problems, Vitamin C
  
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
  
Flowers, Fruits, Leaves, Root
  
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
  
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for making hedge
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
  
Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
  
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
  
Malpighia emarginata
  
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
  
Barbados cherry, West Indian cherry and wild crepe myrtle
  
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
  
Acerola Tree
  
In German
Elephant Bush
  
Acerola Baum
  
In French
Elephant Bush
  
Acerola Arbre
  
In Spanish
elefante Bush
  
Árbol de acerola
  
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
  
Acerola Δέντρο
  
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
  
Árvore acerola
  
In Polish
Elephant Bush
  
Acerola Drzewo
  
In Latin
bush elephant
  
Acerola ligno
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Embryophyta
  
Not Available
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Not Available
  
Order
Caryophyllales
  
Malpighiales
  
Family
Portulacaceae
  
Malpighiaceae
  
Genus
Portulacaria
  
Malpighia
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
  
Not Available, Paperveroideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Season and Care of Elephant Bush and Acerola
Season and care of Elephant Bush and Acerola is important to know. While considering everything about Elephant Bush and Acerola Care, growing season is an essential factor. Elephant Bush season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Acerola season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Elephant Bush is Loam, Sand and for Acerola is Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Elephant Bush is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline and for Acerola is Alkaline.
Elephant Bush and Acerola Physical Information
Elephant Bush and Acerola physical information is very important for comparison. Elephant Bush height is 250.00 cm and width 121.00 cm whereas Acerola height is 457.20 cm and width 243.84 cm. The color specification of Elephant Bush and Acerola are as follows:
Elephant Bush flower color: Pink
Elephant Bush leaf color: Green
Acerola flower color: Pink
- Acerola leaf color: Light Green and Gray Green
Care of Elephant Bush and Acerola
Care of Elephant Bush and Acerola include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. 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 and Acerola pruning is done In Early Autumn, Prune in winter, Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves and Remove dead or diseased plant parts. In summer Elephant Bush needs Ample Water and in winter, it needs Less Watering. Whereas, in summer Acerola needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.