Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Succulent
Perennial
Origin
Southern Africa
Europe, Asia
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Winged flax, Bristle flax, Fairy flax
Number of Varieties
304
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Cultivated Beds
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-124-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
9-7
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm45.72 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm45.72 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
Blue, Sky Blue
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Narrow
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
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, Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Ample Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Less Watering
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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, 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
Midseason Pruning, Prune in fall, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
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
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Bees, Butterflies, Flies
Allergy
-
Cyanide poisoning
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
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Antirheumatic, Carminative, Emollient, Ophthalmic, Poultice, Stomachic
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Flowers, Seeds
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Cosmetics, Fibre, For making oil, Used in paper industry
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
LINUM perenne
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Perennial Flax, Blue flax, Alpine flax
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
Blue Flax Plant
In German
Elephant Bush
Blaue Flachspflanze
In French
Elephant Bush
Bleu lin Plante
In Spanish
elefante Bush
Planta de lino azul
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
Μπλε Λίνο Φυτών
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
Planta do linho azul
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Niebieski roślin lnu
In Latin
bush elephant
Blue linum Planta
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Linales
Family
Portulacaceae
Linaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Linum
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
-
Number of Species
1180
1
27800
👆🏻