Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Succulent
  
Cactus or Succulent
  
Origin
Southern Africa
  
North America, Southwestern United States, Mexico
  
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
  
Colville's Barrel Cactus, Long-spined Barrel Cactus, Barrel Cactus
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
  
limestone outcrops, Rocky areas, Semi desert
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-12
  
12-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
  
12-10
  
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
  
Oval or Rounded
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Pink
  
Yellow, Magenta
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Green, Red
  
Pink, Red
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Succulent
  
Not Available
  
Thorns
No
  
Yes
  
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
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Spring
  
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Low
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
  
Needs good drainage, Needs very little water, Water carefully
  
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, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
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
  
No pruning needed
  
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
  
Yes
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Bold
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Not Available
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
No
  
Attracts
Butterflies
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
no allergic reactions
  
Not Available
  
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
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Insignificant
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
  
Not Available
  
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
  
Flowers
  
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
  
Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
  
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
  
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
  
ECHINOCACTUS horizonthalonius
  
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
  
Devilshead, Turk's head cactus, Blue barrel cactus, Eagle's claw, Horse maimer, Horse crippler, Visnaga meloncillo
  
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
  
Blue barrel cactus
  
In German
Elephant Bush
  
Blau Faßkaktus
  
In French
Elephant Bush
  
Bleu barrel cactus
  
In Spanish
elefante Bush
  
biznaga Azul
  
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
  
Μπλε βαρέλι κάκτος
  
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
  
cacto de tambor azul
  
In Polish
Elephant Bush
  
Niebieski baryłkę kaktus
  
In Latin
bush elephant
  
Blue Cactus
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Embryophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Caryophyllales
  
Caryophyllales
  
Family
Portulacaceae
  
Cactaceae
  
Genus
Portulacaria
  
Echinocactus
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Cacteae
  
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
  
Cactaceae
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Importance of Elephant Bush and Blue Barrel
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Elephant Bush and Blue Barrel. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Elephant Bush and Blue Barrel 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 Blue Barrel is Not Available. Elephant Bush has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation and Skin Problems while Blue Barrel 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 Blue Barrel
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 Blue Barrel 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 Blue Barrel 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 Blue Barrel has no showy fruits. Also Elephant Bush is not flowering and Blue Barrel is flowering. You can compare Elephant Bush and Blue Barrel facts and facts of other plants too.