Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Succulent
Vegetable
Origin
Southern Africa
North America, Mexico, Central America
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Summer Squash, Winter Squash
Number of Varieties
301
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Cold Regions, Subtropical climates
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-12-9999
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
12-1
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 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
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
Yellow, Orange, Dark Green
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Orange, Dark Green, Ivory
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Lemon yellow
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Arrowhead
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Indeterminate
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
Keep ground moist, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
In Summer
Ample Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Less Watering
Ample Water
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
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
-
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Compost
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Downy mildew, Fungal Diseases, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
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
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Insects
Allergy
-
Skin irritation, Skin rash
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, 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
Food for birds, Food for insects
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
anti-cancer, Bone strength, Fiber, Indigestion, Nutrients, Weight loss
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Fruits
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used As Food, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
CUCURBITA pepo 'Delicata'
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Peanut Squash, Squash
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
देलिकाता स्क्वाश
In German
Elephant Bush
Delicata Squash
In French
Elephant Bush
Delicata Squash
In Spanish
elefante Bush
Delicata Squash
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
Delicata Σκουός
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
Delicata Squash
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Delicata Squash
In Latin
bush elephant
delicata Cucurbitae
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
Spermatophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Cucurbitales
Family
Portulacaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Cucurbita
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
1100
1
27800
👆🏻