Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Succulent
Tree
Origin
Southern Africa
Southern Asia, Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Australia
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Ficus benjamina
Number of Varieties
30800
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Temperate Regions, tropical environments, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1210-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
12-10
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 13, 23, 24
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Thicket/Colonizing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm2,440.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm3,050.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
-
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Yellow, Red, Green, Pink, Orange Red, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Elliptic
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought, Full Sun, Shade areas, Variety of soil types
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Cuttings, Layering
Plant Maintenance
Low
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Water carefully
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, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
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
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
10-10-10, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Any balanced general purpose fertilizer, slow-release fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Red blotch, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought, Full Sun, Shade areas, Variety of soil types
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Birds
Allergy
-
Rhinoconjunctivitis, wheezing
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Bonsai, Cottage Garden
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Reduce Bruises
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Antibacterial, Aphrodisiac, Dysentry
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Bark, Fruits, Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Container
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Hedges, Houseplant, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier, Tropical
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
FICUS benjamina
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Weeping Fig, Benjamin's fig, Ficus tree
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
रो अंजीर
In German
Elephant Bush
Birkenfeige
In French
Elephant Bush
figuier pleureur
In Spanish
elefante Bush
higo llorón
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
κλάμα σύκο
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
chorando fig
In Polish
Elephant Bush
płacz rys
In Latin
bush elephant
Plorans ficum
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Urticales
Family
Portulacaceae
Moraceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Ficus
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Ficeae
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
-
Number of Species
1850
1
27800
👆🏻