Life Span
Perennial
Biennial
Origin
Southern Africa
South-Eastern Asia, Southeastern Asia, China
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Purple Orchid Tree, White Orchid Tree, Bidi leaf tree
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Forests, Mountain Slopes, Valley
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-12
9-13
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 9, 10, 11, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
Pink
Light Pink, Magenta, Violet
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Green, Sandy Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Gray Green, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Green, Gray Green, Yellow green
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Butterfly shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer
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
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Early Spring, Spring
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Budding, Grafting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Average Water Needs, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Water Deeply
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
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
Remove 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
Apply N-P-K
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Attracts
Butterflies
Birds
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
-
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, Shadow Tree
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Carminative, Laxative
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Buds, Flowers, Leaves, Root, Seeds, Stem
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Fibre, Gum, Used as a dye
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
BAUHINIA purpurea
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Butterfly Tree, Orchid Tree
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
Butterfly tree
In German
Elephant Bush
Schmetterlings- Baum
In French
Elephant Bush
arbre de papillon
In Spanish
elefante Bush
árbol de la mariposa
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
δέντρο πεταλούδα
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
árvore borboleta
In Polish
Elephant Bush
drzewo Butterfly
In Latin
bush elephant
Gloria ligno
Phylum
Embryophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Fabales
Family
Portulacaceae
Fabaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Bauhinia
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
Caesalpinioideae
Importance of Elephant Bush and Butterfly Tree
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Elephant Bush and Butterfly Tree. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Elephant Bush and Butterfly Tree 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 Butterfly Tree is Carminative and Laxative. Elephant Bush has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation and Skin Problems while Butterfly Tree 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 Butterfly Tree
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 Butterfly Tree 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 whereas of Butterfly Tree have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Elephant Bush has no showy fruits and Butterfly Tree has no showy fruits. Also Elephant Bush is not flowering and Butterfly Tree is not flowering . You can compare Elephant Bush and Butterfly Tree facts and facts of other plants too.