Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Succulent
Flowering Plants, Fruits, Herbs
Origin
Southern Africa
Australia, Tropical Indomalaya
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Cavendish Bananas, Lady Finger Bananas, Pisang Raja, Williams Bananas, Cooking Bananas
Number of Varieties
Not Available
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Subtropical climates, Tropical rainforest, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-12
8-15
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
Pink
Burgandy, Ivory, Purple, White, Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
Not Available
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Red, Yellow, Yellow Brown, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Green
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Cone shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Fall, Spring, Summer
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loamy
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Early Fall, Early Summer, Late Spring, Late Summer, Summer
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Not Available
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
From bulbs
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Allow soil to be completely dry in between waterings, It cannot sustain wet-feet, Requires regular watering, Water every two or three days during warmer months
In Summer
Ample Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Less Watering
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loamy
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial 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
Prune after harvesting, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Anthracnose, Banana aphid, Banana mosaic, Black sigatoka, Bunchy top, Cigar end rot, Coconut scale, Moko disease, Panama disease, Rhizome rot, Yellow sigatoka
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Bold
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
Butterflies
Not Available
Allergy
Not Available
Anaphylaxis, Mouth itching, Throat itching
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Not Available
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Not Available
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
Anemia, Antioxidants, Bronchitis, Diarrhea, Hangover, Heartburn, High blood pressure, Kidney problems, Menstrual Disorders
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Flowers, Fruits
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Pulp can be used to make rope place mats and other goods, Used As Food, Used in paper industry
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Showy Tree
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
Banana Tree
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Banana Tree
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
केले के पेड़
In German
Elephant Bush
Bananenbaum
In French
Elephant Bush
Bananier
In Spanish
elefante Bush
Banano
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
μπανανιά
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
árvore de banana
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Banana drzewa
In Latin
bush elephant
Musa sapientum fixa ligno
Phylum
Embryophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Zingiberales
Family
Portulacaceae
Not Available
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Monocotyledonous
Tribe
Not Available
Not Available
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
Not Available
Number of Species
Not Available
Importance of Elephant Bush and Banana Tree
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Elephant Bush and Banana Tree. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Elephant Bush and Banana Tree 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 Banana Tree is Anemia, Antioxidants, Bronchitis, Diarrhea, Hangover, Heartburn, High blood pressure, Kidney problems and Menstrual Disorders. Elephant Bush has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation and Skin Problems while Banana Tree 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 Banana Tree
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 Banana Tree 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 Not Available whereas of Banana Tree have Anaphylaxis, Mouth itching and Throat itching respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Elephant Bush has no showy fruits and Banana Tree has showy fruits. Also Elephant Bush is not flowering and Banana Tree is flowering. You can compare Elephant Bush and Banana Tree facts and facts of other plants too.