Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Succulent
  
Aquatics
  
Origin
Southern Africa
  
Eastern Europe, Western Asia
  
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
  
Common Cattail, Southern Cattail, Dwarf Bulrush
  
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
  
Lake margins, Ponds, Swamps
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-12
  
3-11
  
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
  
12-1
  
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
21,22
  
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
  
Upright/Erect
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Pink
  
Yellow, Green, Brown, Chocolate
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Green, Red
  
Light brown, Light Red
  
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
  
Brown
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Succulent
  
Long linear and narrow
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
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
  
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
  
Wet Site
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Container, In Water
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
  
Runners
  
Plant Maintenance
Low
  
Low
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
  
Plant grows in water
  
In Summer
Ample Water
  
Aquatic Plant
  
In Spring
Less Watering
  
Aquatic Plant
  
In Winter
Less Watering
  
Aquatic Plant
  
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 in early spring, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
  
Nitrogen, Phosphate
  
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
  
Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Bold
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Butterflies
  
Birds, Flying insects
  
Allergy
no allergic reactions
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
  
Beautification, Showy Purposes, Water gardening
  
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
  
Food for animals, Food for birds, Food for insects, Nesting sites for birds
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
  
Nutrients
  
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 Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
  
Bog Garden, Container, Water Gardens
  
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
  
TYPHA minima
  
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
  
Dwarf Cattail
  
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
  
बौना कैटेल
  
In German
Elephant Bush
  
Dwarf Rohrkolben
  
In French
Elephant Bush
  
Cattail nain
  
In Spanish
elefante Bush
  
Espadaña enano
  
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
  
Νάνος Cattail
  
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
  
Tifa Dwarf
  
In Polish
Elephant Bush
  
Dwarf Ożypałka
  
In Latin
bush elephant
  
Pumilio Cattail
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Embryophyta
  
Tracheophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Liliopsida
  
Order
Caryophyllales
  
Poales
  
Family
Portulacaceae
  
Typhaceae
  
Genus
Portulacaria
  
Typha
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Importance of Elephant Bush and Dwarf Cattail
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Elephant Bush and Dwarf Cattail. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Elephant Bush and Dwarf Cattail 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 Dwarf Cattail is Nutrients. Elephant Bush has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation and Skin Problems while Dwarf Cattail 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 Dwarf Cattail
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 Dwarf Cattail 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 Dwarf Cattail have no allergic reactions respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Elephant Bush has no showy fruits and Dwarf Cattail has no showy fruits. Also Elephant Bush is not flowering and Dwarf Cattail is not flowering . You can compare Elephant Bush and Dwarf Cattail facts and facts of other plants too.