Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Succulent
Sedge or Rush
Origin
Southern Africa
World/Pandemic, North America, Europe, Russia/Siberia, Africa, Asia
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
austrocalifornicus , effusus , laxus , pacificus , solutus
Number of Varieties
305
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
All sorts of environments, Banks, ditches, marshes, Shores of rivers or lakes
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-126-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
9-6
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, 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
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm45.70 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm61.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
Brown
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
Green, Tan, Sandy Brown
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Long hair-like leaves
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Poorly Drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Divison, reseeds
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Does not require regular watering
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
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Poorly 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
Prune to control growth, 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
-
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
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
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Bumblebees, Flying insects
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Informal Hedge, Woodland margins
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
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
-
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
-
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
woven into the covering of tatami mats
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Bog Garden, Container, Mixed Border, Water Gardens
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
JUNCUS effusus
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Soft Rush
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
Soft Rush
In German
Elephant Bush
Soft Rush
In French
Elephant Bush
Soft Rush
In Spanish
elefante Bush
Soft Rush
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
Soft Rush
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
Soft Rush
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Soft Rush
In Latin
bush elephant
Soft Rush
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Poales
Family
Portulacaceae
Juncaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Juncus
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
-
Number of Species
1400
1
27800
👆🏻