Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Bulb or Corm or Tuber
Succulent
Origin
Southern Africa, South Africa
Southern Africa
Types
Ornithogalum thyrsoides
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
2530
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
marshes, Sandy flats, Slopes
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
7-1010-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-7
10-1
Sunset Zone
21,22
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Twisted/Contorted
Plant Size
Minimum Height
20.30 cm250.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
15.20 cm121.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Orange, Gold
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
-
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue Green, Yellow green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Several shades of Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Succulent
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
-
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
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Bulbs, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Reduce watering in winter, Water three times weekly in summer
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, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune to control growth, prune to control shape, Prune to stimulate growth
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
-
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
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies, Insects, pollinators
Butterflies
Allergy
Skin irritation, Skin rash, Toxic
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cut Flowers, Showy Purposes, Used as an interior landscaping species, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
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
Flowers
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Beneficial species for attracting pollinators, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for Landscaping
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, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
Ornithogalum thyrsoides
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Chincherinchee, Wonder-flower, Star-of-Bethlehem
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
Chincherinchee
Elephant Bush
In German
Kap-Milchstern
Elephant Bush
In French
Chincherinchee
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
Chincherinchee
elefante Bush
In Greek
Ornithogalum thyrsoides
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
Chinkerinchee
elefante de Bush
In Polish
Chincherinchee,
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Chincherinchee
bush elephant
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Caryophyllales
Family
Asparagaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Ornithogalum
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Ornithogaleae
-
Subfamily
Scilloideae
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
1801
1
27800
👆🏻