Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Succulent
Tree
Origin
Southern Africa
Eastern Asia, China
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Babylon
Number of Varieties
303
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Lake margins, River side, Swamps, Waste areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-125-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
10-9
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Weeping
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm910.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm460.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Light Yellow, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Needle like
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
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Early Spring, Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Divison, Rooted stem cutting, Stem Planting, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Keep ground moist, Requires consistently moist soil, Requires regular watering, 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
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
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 if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Compost, fertilize every 2-3 weeks while growing, fertilize in growing season
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Aphids, Beetles, Caterpillars, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought, Wet Site
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
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, 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, Erosion control, Food for birds, Food for insects, Nesting sites for birds, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Versatility
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Headache, Sedative, Stomach pain
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Tree trunks
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Showy Purposes, Used as firewood, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Cutflower, Dried Flower/Everlasting, Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
SALIX babylonica f. tortuosa
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Corkscrew Willow
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
पेंचकश विलो
In German
Elephant Bush
Korkenzieher-Weide
In French
Elephant Bush
Tire-bouchon Willow
In Spanish
elefante Bush
Tire-bouchon Willow
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
τιρμπουσόν Willow
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
corkscrew salgueiro
In Polish
Elephant Bush
korkociąg Willow
In Latin
bush elephant
corkscrew Willow
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Malpighiales
Family
Portulacaceae
Salicaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Salix
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Saliceae
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
Salicoideae
Number of Species
135
1
27800
👆🏻