Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Succulent
Origin
Southern Africa
Southern Africa
Types
Carissa bispinosa, Carissa carandas
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
2030
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Coastal Regions, Tropical regions
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-1110-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
10-1
Sunset Zone
H2, 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
90.00 cm250.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
60.00 cm121.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Light Red
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark 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
Elliptic and Ovate
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
Slow
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Shade areas
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Vegetative Reproduction
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Water daily during growing season, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
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
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
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 if you want to improve plant shape, Prune to control growth, 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
fertilize in growing season, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Insects, Red blotch, Scale, Spider mites, Thripes, Whiteflies
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Shade areas
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
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Butterflies
Allergy
Toxic
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Cottage Garden, Landscape Designing, 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, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion
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
Flowers, Fruits
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, 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
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
CARISSA macrocarpa
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Carissia
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
Carissa
Elephant Bush
In German
carissa
Elephant Bush
In French
carissa
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
carissa
elefante Bush
In Greek
carissa
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
carissa
elefante de Bush
In Polish
carissa
Elephant Bush
In Latin
carissa
bush elephant
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Gentianales
Caryophyllales
Family
Apocynaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Carissa
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Carisseae
-
Subfamily
Rauvolfioideae
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
1001
1
27800
👆🏻