Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southern Africa
Mediterranean
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
California bay leaf, Indian bay leaf or malabathrum, Indonesian bay leaf
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Forest edges, Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-12
8-11
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Pyramidal
Flower Color
Pink
Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Linear
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Spring
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings, Stem Planting
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, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial 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
Prune in summer, Prune in the late winter or spring, Remove damaged leaves, Remove shoots
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Flower
No
Not Available
Fragrant Fruit
No
Not Available
Foliage Texture
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Attracts
Butterflies
Birds
Allergy
no allergic reactions
Asthma
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
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
anti-allergy, Arthritis, Bronchitis, Headache, Muscle Pain, Pain killer
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Fruits, Leaves
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Cosmetics, Oil is used for aromatherapy, Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
LAURUS nobilis
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Bay Laurel, Sweet Bay
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
bay laurel
In German
Elephant Bush
Lorbeer
In French
Elephant Bush
laurier
In Spanish
elefante Bush
laurel
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
δάφνη
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
louro
In Polish
Elephant Bush
wawrzynu
In Latin
bush elephant
sinus laurus
Phylum
Embryophyta
Not Available
Class
Magnoliopsida
Not Available
Order
Caryophyllales
Laurales
Family
Portulacaceae
Lauraceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Laurus
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Magnoliids
Tribe
Not Available
Not Available
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
Not Available
Number of Species
Not Available
Importance of Elephant Bush and Bay Laurel
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Elephant Bush and Bay Laurel. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Elephant Bush and Bay Laurel 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 Bay Laurel is anti-allergy, Arthritis, Bronchitis, Headache, Muscle Pain and Pain killer. Elephant Bush has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation and Skin Problems while Bay Laurel 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 Bay Laurel
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 Bay Laurel 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 Bay Laurel have Asthma respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Elephant Bush has no showy fruits and Bay Laurel has showy fruits. Also Elephant Bush is not flowering and Bay Laurel is not flowering . You can compare Elephant Bush and Bay Laurel facts and facts of other plants too.