Life Span
-
Perennial
Type
Tree
Succulent
Origin
Southern Africa, South Africa
Southern Africa
Types
Shrub
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
3630
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Forest margins, Grassland, Mountains, Pastures, Rocky Ridges, Woods
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-1110-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-7
10-1
Sunset Zone
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
Spreading
Twisted/Contorted
Plant Size
Minimum Height
460.00 cm250.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
460.00 cm121.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green, Ivory
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Yellow, Red
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Lance shaped
Succulent
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
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Transplanting
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Form a Soil ring to water efficiently, Use and maintain water-efficient soaker hoses, Use Mulches to help prevent water loss during hot and windy weather, Water Deeply
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
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 leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flowers
Insignificant
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
Fine
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Butterflies
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
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
Diarrhea, Dysentry
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Culinary use, Employed in herbal medicine, Used as a dye, Used as a spice, Used in paper industry, Wood is used for making furniture
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
Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
RHUS lancea
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
African Sumac
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
अफ्रीकी एक प्रकार का पौधा
Elephant Bush
In German
African sumac
Elephant Bush
In French
sumac africaine
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
zumaque africano
elefante Bush
In Greek
Αφρικανική σουμάκι
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
sumac africano
elefante de Bush
In Polish
afrykański sumaka
Elephant Bush
In Latin
African sumac
bush elephant
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
-
Embryophyta
Class
-
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Caryophyllales
Family
Anacardiaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Rhus
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Anacardioideae
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
361
1
27800
👆🏻