Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Succulent
Needled or Scaled Evergreen
Origin
Southern Africa
Northeastern United States, North-Central United States, Alaska, Canada
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Oriental spruce, Bog spruce, Weeping spruce
Number of Varieties
308
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Moist Soils, Slopes, Swamps, Well Drained
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-121-6
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
6-1
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A1, A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Narrow Upright/Fastigiate
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm3,000.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
White
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Pink
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Sea Green, Blue Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Blue Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Blue Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Blue Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Needle like
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Slow
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
-
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
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
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
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Pinch Tips, Remove crossing or rubbing 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
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Birds
Allergy
-
Dermatitis
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, Shadow Tree
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
anti-inflammatory, Disinfectant, Kidney problems, Odontalgic, Poultice, Salve, Stomachic, tuberculosis, Vulnerary
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Flowers, Inner Bark, Seeds
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Disinfectant, Gum, Paper pulp, Pitch, String, Used as a dye, Used in paper industry, Waterproofing
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Bog Garden, Screening, Wind Break
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
PICEA mariana
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Black Spruce, Bog Spruce, Swamp Spruce
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
Black Spruce Tree
In German
Elephant Bush
Schwarz Fichte
In French
Elephant Bush
Noir Épicéa
In Spanish
elefante Bush
Negro árbol de abeto
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
Μαύρο Spruce Tree
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
Árvore Spruce Preto
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Czarny Świerk Drzewo
In Latin
bush elephant
Niger abiegnis
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
Coniferophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Pinopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Pinales
Family
Portulacaceae
Pinaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Picea
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
-
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
Pinoideae
Number of Species
135
1
27800
👆🏻