Life Span
Perennial
Annual and Perennial
Type
Succulent
Tree
Origin
Southern Africa
Australia
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Eucalyptus crebra, Eucalyptus sideroxylon
Number of Varieties
304
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
gardens, Mountain tops, Open Forest, Roadsides, Tropical regions, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-129-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
12-3
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm910.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm760.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
White, Pink, Rose
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Green, Light Pink
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Oblong
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Early Spring, Spring, Late Spring, Winter, Late Winter
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Pollution, Drought, Salt, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Requires watering in the growing season, Use Mulches to help prevent water loss during hot and windy weather, Water Deeply
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full 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 deadheads
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought, Pollution and Soil Compaction, 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
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
-
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
Cold
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
Medicinal oil, Used as firewood, Wood is used for making furniture, Wood is used for ship building
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Feature Plant, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
EUCALYPTUS sideroxylon
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Ironbark
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
Ironbark
In German
Elephant Bush
Ironbark
In French
Elephant Bush
Ironbark
In Spanish
elefante Bush
Ironbark
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
Ironbark
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
Ironbark
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Ironbark
In Latin
bush elephant
Ironbark
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
-
Class
Magnoliopsida
-
Order
Caryophyllales
Myrtales
Family
Portulacaceae
Myrtaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Eucalyptus
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Eucalypteae
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
Myrtoideae
Number of Species
1700
1
27800
👆🏻