Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Fruit
Succulent
Origin
Southern Asia, India, Melanesia, Australia
Southern Africa
Types
Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
130
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Well Drained
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-1110-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
10-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 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
Oval or Rounded
Twisted/Contorted
Plant Size
Minimum Height
370.00 cm250.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
300.00 cm121.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Purple
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Yellow
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
Light Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oval
Succulent
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Winter, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Budding, Cuttings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep the Soil well drained, 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
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune in spring, Remove branches, Remove branches that rub together, Remove crossing or rubbing branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, 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, fertilize in spring, fertilize in summer, organic fertlizers
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
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Butterflies
Allergy
Asthma
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
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
Respiratory Disorders, Soothing and relieving pain
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Fruits
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Making Perfumes, Traditional medicine, Used As Food, Used for its medicinal properties
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, Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Shade Trees, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier, Tropical
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
CITRUS medica var. sarcodactylis
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Buddha's Hand, Fingered Citron
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
Buddha's Hand
Tree
Elephant Bush
In German
Buddhas Hand
Baum
Elephant Bush
In French
Main de Bouddha
Arbre
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
Mano de Buda
Árbol
elefante Bush
In Greek
Χέρι του Βούδα
Δέντρο
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
Mão de Buda
Árvore
elefante de Bush
In Polish
Ręka Buddy
Drzewo
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Buddha manus
Arbor
bush elephant
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
-
Embryophyta
Class
-
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Caryophyllales
Family
Rutaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Citrus
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
11
1
27800
👆🏻