Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Succulent
Cactus or Succulent
Origin
Southern Africa
North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Central America, South America
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Not Available
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Coastal Mountains, Humid climates
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-12
Not Available
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Not Available
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Clump-Forming
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
Not Available
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Pink
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Toothed
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial Sun, Partial shade
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
Not Available
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Not Available
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Stem Planting, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water
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
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
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
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Requires little pruning
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
Flower Petal Number
Single
Not Available
Foliage Texture
Bold
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
Butterflies
Not Available
Allergy
no allergic reactions
Eye irritation, sneezing
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Not Available
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Not Available
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Leaves
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Christmas Tree, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
SCHLUMBERGERA x buckleyi
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Thanksgiving Cactus, Crab Cactus
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
क्रिसमस कैक्टस
In German
Elephant Bush
Weihnachtskaktus
In French
Elephant Bush
Cactus de Noël
In Spanish
elefante Bush
Cactus de Navidad
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
Χριστούγεννα Cactus
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
Cacto de Natal
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Christmas Cactus
In Latin
bush elephant
Nativitatis Cactus
Phylum
Embryophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Caryophyllales
Family
Portulacaceae
Cactaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Schlumbergera
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Not Available
Not Available
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
Cactoideae
Number of Species
Not Available
Not Available
Importance of Elephant Bush and Christmas Cactus
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Elephant Bush and Christmas Cactus. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Elephant Bush and Christmas Cactus 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 Christmas Cactus 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 Christmas Cactus 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 Christmas Cactus
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 Christmas Cactus 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 Christmas Cactus have Eye irritation and sneezing respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Elephant Bush has no showy fruits and Christmas Cactus has no showy fruits. Also Elephant Bush is not flowering and Christmas Cactus is not flowering . You can compare Elephant Bush and Christmas Cactus facts and facts of other plants too.