Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Succulent
Origin
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States
Southern Africa
Types
Castanea pumila
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
830
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside, Ridges
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-910-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-5
10-1
Sunset Zone
-
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Twisted/Contorted
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm250.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
150.00 cm121.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Light Yellow, Ivory
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Light Green, Chartreuse
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Gray Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Gold, Tan
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Elliptic
Succulent
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Slow
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Requires watering in the growing season, Water once every two or three weeks
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
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune in early spring, 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
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Deers, Rabbits, Squirrels
Butterflies
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, 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
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Headache, Treating fever
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Seeds, Stem
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used in biomass, Wood is used for making furniture, Wood log is used in making fences
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
Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
CASTANEA pumila
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Chinquapin
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
बौना शाहबलूत
Elephant Bush
In German
Zwergkastanien
Elephant Bush
In French
châtaignier nain
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
el castaño enano
elefante Bush
In Greek
νάνος καστανιάς
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
νάνος καστανιάς
elefante de Bush
In Polish
krasnolud kasztan
Elephant Bush
In Latin
P. castaneis
bush elephant
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Anthophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fagales
Caryophyllales
Family
Fagaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Castanea
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Cherokee
-
Subfamily
Cassidinae
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
61
1
27800
👆🏻