Life Span
Perennial
Annual and Perennial
Type
Succulent
Shrub
Origin
Southern Africa
Central America, South America
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Fruit Tree
Number of Varieties
302
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Dry areas, Well Drained, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-129-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
-
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Thicket/Colonizing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm457.20 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm243.84 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Light Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Light Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Light Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Oval
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Spring, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Cuttings, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
In Summer
Ample Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Less Watering
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Dry, Sandy
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
In Early Autumn, Prune in winter, Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Complete balanced fertilizer, iron-rich fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Aphids, Red blotch, Whiteflies
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Wind
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
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Bees, Birds, Butterflies, pollinators
Allergy
-
Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Air purification, Food for birds, Nesting sites for birds, Windbreak
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Antioxidants, Arthritis, Diarrhea, Dysentry, Fertility, Fever, Inflammation, Kidney problems, Urinary tract problems, Vitamin C
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Flowers, Fruits, Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for making hedge
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
Malpighia emarginata
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Barbados cherry, West Indian cherry and wild crepe myrtle
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
Acerola Tree
In German
Elephant Bush
Acerola Baum
In French
Elephant Bush
Acerola Arbre
In Spanish
elefante Bush
Árbol de acerola
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
Acerola Δέντρο
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
Árvore acerola
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Acerola Drzewo
In Latin
bush elephant
Acerola ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
-
Class
Magnoliopsida
-
Order
Caryophyllales
Malpighiales
Family
Portulacaceae
Malpighiaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Malpighia
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
Paperveroideae
Number of Species
1-
1
27800
👆🏻