Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Succulent
Flowering Plants, Succulent
Origin
Southern Africa
South Africa
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Cooper’s ice plant
Hardy yellow
Starburst
Hardy white
Number of Varieties
304
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Coastal Regions, Mountain tops, Stream side, Suburban areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1212-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
9 - 1
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Spreading
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm15.20 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm25.40 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
White, Yellow, Red, Purple, Orange, Pink, Hot Pink, Fuchsia, Peach
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Blue Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Succulent
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full 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
Spring, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Needs less watering, Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Ample Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Less Watering
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
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
Shape and thin as needed
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
No fertilizers needed
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Mealybugs
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought and Salt
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
Butterflies
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beautification
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
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Diuretic, Dysentry, Liver problems
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Fruits, Leaves, Sap, Seeds
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Container, Groundcover, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
DOROTHEANTHUS bellidiformis
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Ice Plant, Livingstone Daisy
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
Ice Plant
In German
Elephant Bush
Eis-Anlage
In French
Elephant Bush
Ice Plant
In Spanish
elefante Bush
Planta de hielo
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
Plant Ice
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
Planta de gelo
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Ice roślin
In Latin
bush elephant
Ice plant
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Caryophyllales
Family
Portulacaceae
Aizoaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Dorotheanthus
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
Ruschioideae
Number of Species
1135
1
27800
👆🏻