Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Succulent
Origin
Eastern Africa, Southern Africa
Southern Africa
Types
Epigeal, Hypogeal
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
230
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Coastal sand dunes, Wild
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1510-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
10-1
Sunset Zone
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
-
Twisted/Contorted
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.00 cm250.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm121.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Green, Orange
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Green
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Blue Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Blue Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Reniform
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
Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
reseeds, root cutting
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water, Keep the Soil well drained
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
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
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
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Bold
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Butterflies
Allergy
Kidney Disease
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Formal Garden, Hanging Basket
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
Beans
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Basketary, Edible seed
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, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
COTYLEDON
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Pig's ear, Dog's ear
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
बीजपत्र
Elephant Bush
In German
Cotyledon
Elephant Bush
In French
Cotyledon
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
Cotyledon
elefante Bush
In Greek
κοτυληδών kotylēdōn
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
Cotyledon
elefante de Bush
In Polish
Liścień
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Cotyledon
bush elephant
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
-
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Rosales
Caryophyllales
Family
Crassulaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Cotyledon L.
Portulacaria
Clade
Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
121
1
27800
👆🏻