Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Ornamental Grasses and Bamboo
Succulent
Origin
Southern Europe, Western Europe, Mediterranean
Southern Africa
Types
-
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
1030
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Dry areas, Dry Forest, Rocky areas
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-910-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9 - 1
10-1
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 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
Cushion/Mound-forming
Twisted/Contorted
Plant Size
Minimum Height
45.00 cm250.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
60.96 cm121.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Blue Green
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
-
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Blue Green, Silver, Gray
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Blue Green, Silver, Gray
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Blue Green, Tan, Silver, Gray
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Grass like
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Salt
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Rooted stem cutting, Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, occasional watering once established, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Cut or pinch the stems, Pinch Tips, 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
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
Salt
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Butterflies
Allergy
Asthma, Itchiness, Rash, Rhinitis
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Ground Cover
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
-
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Stem
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
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
Container, Edging, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
HELICTOTRICHON sempervirens
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Blue Oat Grass
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
ब्लू जई घास
Elephant Bush
In German
Blau Ährengras
Elephant Bush
In French
Bleu Oat Grass
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
Azul hierba de avena
elefante Bush
In Greek
Μπλε βρώμης Grass
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
Azul Aveia
elefante de Bush
In Polish
Niebieski Owies trawa
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Blue Oat Grass
bush elephant
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Poales
Caryophyllales
Family
Poaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Helictotrichon
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Aveneae
-
Subfamily
Pooideae
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
701
1
27800
👆🏻