Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Succulent
Origin
Eastern Africa, Middle Africa
Southern Africa
Types
Kigelia africana
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
930
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Riverine forest, wooded grassland
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-1210-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
10-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Arching/Fountain-shaped
Twisted/Contorted
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,220.00 cm250.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
910.00 cm121.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Dark Red, Tan
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Tan
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
Succulent
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs a lot of water initially
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
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, 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
Balanced liquid fertilizer monthly
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Leaf spot, Mealybugs, Rust
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Butterflies
Allergy
Poisonous when unripe
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Acne, Slow downs aging
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Gynaecological, Malaria, STDs
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Dried seeds, Leaves
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Used to flavour beer, Used to produce a red dye
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
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Tropical
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
KIGELIA africana
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Sausage Tree
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
Sausage Tree
Elephant Bush
In German
Sausage Tree
Elephant Bush
In French
saucisse Arbre
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
Árbol de salchicha
elefante Bush
In Greek
λουκάνικο δέντρο
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
Árvore de salsicha
elefante de Bush
In Polish
kiełbasa Drzewo
Elephant Bush
In Latin
farciminis ligno
bush elephant
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Caryophyllales
Family
Bignoniaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Kaempferia
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Tecomeae
-
Subfamily
-
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
91
1
27800
👆🏻