Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southern Africa
North America, United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, Canada
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Blue False Indigo
White False Indigo
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
gardens, Grassland, Warmer regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-12
2-8
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A1, A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Oval or Rounded
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Light Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Light Green, Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Light Green, Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Light Green, Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
-
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Ovate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Ample Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Less Watering
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, 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
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
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
Yes
Foliage Texture
Bold
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
-
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
-
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Whole plant
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
AMORPHA canescens
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
False Indigo
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
इंडिगो
In German
Elephant Bush
falsches Indigo
In French
Elephant Bush
faux Indigo
In Spanish
elefante Bush
Falso Indigo
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
Λάθος Indigo
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
false Indigo
In Polish
Elephant Bush
fałsz Indigo
In Latin
bush elephant
falsum indicum
Phylum
Embryophyta
Magnoliophyta
Order
Caryophyllales
Fabales
Family
Portulacaceae
Fabaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Amorpha
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
-
Importance of Elephant Bush and False Indigo
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Elephant Bush and False Indigo. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Elephant Bush and False Indigo 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 False Indigo is . Elephant Bush has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation and Skin Problems while False Indigo 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 False Indigo
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 False Indigo 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 whereas of False Indigo have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Elephant Bush has no showy fruits and False Indigo has no showy fruits. Also Elephant Bush is not flowering and False Indigo is not flowering . You can compare Elephant Bush and False Indigo facts and facts of other plants too.