Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Succulent
Flowering Plants
Origin
Southern Africa
China
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Ribbon series, Milady aster
Number of Varieties
3035
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Cold Regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-123-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
9 - 1
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm20.30 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm25.40 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
White, Yellow, Purple, Pink, Rose, Crimson, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Arrowhead
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Do Not over Water, Keep ground moist, Never Over-water, Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
In Summer
Ample Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Less Watering
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Alternate Days
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Slightly Acidic
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loamy, Well drained
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Loamy, Well drained
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
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Compost, Well-rotted manure
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
fungus
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single, Double, Semi-Double
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
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
-
Allergy
-
Asthma
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beautification, Bouquets, Hanging Basket, Landscape Designing, 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, Food for insects, Versatility, Very little waste
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Rheumatism
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
Decoration Purposes, Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Bedding Plant, Container, Cottage garden, Rock Garden, Showy Tree
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
CALLISTEPHUS chinensis
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
China Aster
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
चीन एस्टर
In German
Elephant Bush
China Aster
In French
Elephant Bush
Chine Aster
In Spanish
elefante Bush
aster de China
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
Κίνα Aster
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
China Aster
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Chiny Aster
In Latin
bush elephant
Sinis Aster
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Asterales
Family
Portulacaceae
Asteraceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Callistephus
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Astereae
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
Asteroideae
Number of Species
115
1
27800
👆🏻