Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southern Africa
Southeastern Asia, India
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Basella rubra, L.Basella oleracea, Landw.Basella lucida, L.Basella japonica, Burm.f.Basella cordifolia,
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
gardens
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-12
-9999
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Vining/Climbing
Flower Color
Pink
White, Pink, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Purple, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Round
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Keep ground moist, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water less during winter
In Summer
Ample Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Less Watering
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
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 dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Requires very little pruning
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Insects, Mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, 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
Astringent
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Fruits, Leaves
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Culinary use, Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
BASELLA alba
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Ceylon Spinach, Indian Spinach, Malabar Spinach
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
भारतीय पालक
In German
Elephant Bush
Indian Spinat
In French
Elephant Bush
épinards indienne
In Spanish
elefante Bush
espinaca india
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
Ινδικό Σπανάκι
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
espinafre indiano
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Indyjski szpinak
In Latin
bush elephant
Spinach Indian
Order
Caryophyllales
Caryophyllales
Family
Portulacaceae
Basellaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Basella
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
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Importance of Elephant Bush and Indian Spinach
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Elephant Bush and Indian Spinach. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Elephant Bush and Indian Spinach 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 Indian Spinach is Astringent. Elephant Bush has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation and Skin Problems while Indian Spinach 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 Indian Spinach
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 Indian Spinach 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 Indian Spinach 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 Indian Spinach has showy fruits. Also Elephant Bush is not flowering and Indian Spinach is not flowering . You can compare Elephant Bush and Indian Spinach facts and facts of other plants too.