Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Succulent
Tree
Origin
Southern Africa
Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, Western Asia
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
-
Number of Varieties
3020
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
open Woodlands, Roadsides, Waste areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-124-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
9-1
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm2,540.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm2,540.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
-
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
-
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
-
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
-
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Arrowhead
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Early Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Grafting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Ample Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Less Watering
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam
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
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove hanging branches
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Compost, fertilize in spring, Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Aphids, Borers, Mealybugs, Scale
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Flowers
Showy
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
Bold
-
Foliage Sheen
Matte
-
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
-
Allergy
-
Throat itching
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, Good for skin and hair, Improve hair condition, Improve skin condition
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shadow Tree
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Digestion problems, High blood pressure, Improve heart health, Inflammation, Lung Problems, Nutrients, Oral health
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Employed in herbal medicine, Used As Food, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Feature Plant, Foundation, Fruit / Fruit Tree
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
PRUNUS cerasifera
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Cherry Plum, Myrobalan Plum
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
चेरी प्लम
In German
Elephant Bush
cherry Plum
In French
Elephant Bush
Prunus
In Spanish
elefante Bush
cherry Plum
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
Cherry Plum
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
cherry Plum
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Cherry Plum
In Latin
bush elephant
cerasus PRUNUM
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Rosales
Family
Portulacaceae
Rosaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Prunus
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Amygdaleae
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
Amygdaloideae
Number of Species
1200
1
27800
👆🏻