Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Succulent
Tree
Origin
Southern Africa
Southeastern United States, Caribbean, Central America
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
tourist tree, turpentine tree, chaca
Number of Varieties
301
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Riverbanks, Sandy stream banks, Tropical rainforest
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1210-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
12-10
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 13, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Twisted/Contorted
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm460.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm760.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
Ivory
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Crimson, Copper
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
-
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Compound
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
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Summer, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
occasional watering once established
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, 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
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
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
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Birds, Butterflies, Deers, Hummingbirds
Allergy
-
allergic reaction, Eye irritation, Mouth itching, Vomiting
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Bonsai
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Improve skin condition, Making cosmetics, Removes pimples
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Air purification, Forms dense stands, Nesting sites for birds, soil stabilisation
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Aging, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, Headache
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Bark, Leaves
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Application in Furniture, Can be made into a herbal tea, Cosmetics
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
BURSERA simaruba
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Gumbo Limbo, Tourist Tree, Turpentine Tree
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
Bursera simaruba
In German
Elephant Bush
Bursera simaruba
In French
Elephant Bush
Bursera simaruba
In Spanish
elefante Bush
Bursera simaruba
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
Bursera simaruba
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
Bursera simaruba
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Bursera simaruba
In Latin
bush elephant
Bursera simaruba
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
Angiosperms
Class
Magnoliopsida
Eudicotyledones
Order
Caryophyllales
Sapindales
Family
Portulacaceae
Burseraceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Bursera
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
-
Number of Species
110
1
27800
👆🏻