Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Succulent
Herbaceous Perennial
Origin
Southern Africa
Africa, Kenya, South Africa
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Freesia
Number of Varieties
3015
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
gardens, Grassland, Homesteads, Tropical regions, Wet forest
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-129-10
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
-
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
-
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm50.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm40.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
Yellow
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, Light Yellow, Brown
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Linear
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Slightly Acidic
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Early Spring, Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
From bulbs
Plant Maintenance
Low
High
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Needs a lot of moisture in the growing season, Stop watering completely once the plant becomes dormant
In Summer
Ample Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Less Watering
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Slightly Acidic
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand, Well drained
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Shade, Indirect sunlight, Partial shade, 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
Cut away fading foliage, Remove deadheads, Requires very little pruning
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
20-20-20 amount, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Potash
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Butterflies
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beautification, Ground Cover, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Hair Conditioner, Making cosmetics, Skin cleanser
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
Bulbs, Flowers
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Cosmetics, Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used for fragrance
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Feature Plant, Flower borders, Screening
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
Freesia refracta
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Freesia
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
Freesia
In German
Elephant Bush
Freesie
In French
Elephant Bush
Freesia
In Spanish
elefante Bush
fresia
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
freesia
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
freesia
In Polish
Elephant Bush
frezja
In Latin
bush elephant
Freesia
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Asparagales
Family
Portulacaceae
Iridaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Freesia
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
Ixioideae
Number of Species
116
1
27800
👆🏻