Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southern Africa
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Mexico, Europe
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Carpinus caroliniana caroliniana, Carpinus caroliniana virginiana
Number of Varieties
Not Available
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Not Available
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-12
3-9
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Spreading
Flower Color
Pink
Yellow, Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Yellow, Yellow green, Orange Red
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Not Available
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Pinnate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade, Full Shade
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Spring
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Wet Site
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Not Available
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Requires regular watering
In Summer
Ample Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Less Watering
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade, Full Shade
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Requires very little pruning
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Canker, fungus
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Wet Site
Flower Petal Number
Single
Not Available
Fragrant Leaf
No
Not Available
Foliage Texture
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
Butterflies
Not Available
Allergy
no allergic reactions
Not Available
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes, small hedge
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Good for the Scalp, Stops hair loss
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Anxiety, Bleeding, Cold, Cough, Cuts, Eye Infection, Fatigue, Fights Depression, Insomnia, Menstrual Disorders, Wounds
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Whole plant
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used as firewood, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used for woodware
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Hedges, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
CARPINUS caroliniana
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
American Hornbeam, Musclewood, blue-beech, Ironwood
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
अमेरिकी हानबीन
In German
Elephant Bush
Amerikanische Hainbuche
In French
Elephant Bush
Charme de Caroline
In Spanish
elefante Bush
Carpinus caroliniana
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
american γαύρο
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
Carpinus caroliniana
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Grab amerykański
In Latin
bush elephant
american hornbeam
Phylum
Embryophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Fagales
Family
Portulacaceae
Betulaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Carpinus
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Not Available
Not Available
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
Not Available
Number of Species
Not Available
Importance of Elephant Bush and American Hornbeam
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Elephant Bush and American Hornbeam. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Elephant Bush and American Hornbeam as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Elephant Bush is Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation and Sore throat whereas of American Hornbeam is Anxiety, Bleeding, Cold, Cough, Cuts, Eye Infection, Fatigue, Fights Depression, Insomnia, Menstrual Disorders and Wounds. Elephant Bush has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation and Skin Problems while American Hornbeam has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation and Skin Problems.
Compare Facts of Elephant Bush vs American Hornbeam
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Elephant Bush vs American Hornbeam and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Elephant Bush are no allergic reactions whereas of American Hornbeam have Not Available respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Elephant Bush has no showy fruits and American Hornbeam has no showy fruits. Also Elephant Bush is not flowering and American Hornbeam is flowering. You can compare Elephant Bush and American Hornbeam facts and facts of other plants too.