Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Succulent
Tree
Origin
Southern Africa
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Central United States, Canada
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Blue ash, Single-leaf ash, Fragrant ash
Number of Varieties
3045
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Moist Soils
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-123-7
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
7-1
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
-
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm1,220.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm610.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
Green, Purple
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Green, Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Yellow, Yellow green, Brown, Bronze
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Pinnate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Early Spring, Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Wet Site
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Ample Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Less Watering
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
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
Prune in fall, Prune in winter, Prune when plant is dormant, Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove short twigs
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
Wet Site
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
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
Birds
Allergy
-
-
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
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Air purification, Nesting sites for birds, Wildlife, Windbreak
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Antirheumatic, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Fever, Gout, Laxative, Ophthalmic, Purgative, Sore Eyes, Sore throat, Tonic
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Inner Bark, Leaves, Tree trunks
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Basketary, Used as a dye, Used as fuel, Used for woodware
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Shade Trees, Water Gardens
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
FRAXINUS nigra
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Black Ash, Brown Ash, Swamp Ash
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
Black Ash plant
In German
Elephant Bush
Black Ash Pflanze
In French
Elephant Bush
plante Black Ash
In Spanish
elefante Bush
planta de negro de Ceniza
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
φυτό μαύρη τέφρα
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
planta Black Ash
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Black Ash roślin
In Latin
bush elephant
Black ash herba
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Scrophulariales
Family
Portulacaceae
Oleaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Fraxinus
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Oleeae
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
-
Number of Species
118
1
27800
👆🏻