Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Succulent
Shrubs, Spurge
Origin
Southern Africa
Caribbean, Central America, South America, Madagascar, South Africa
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Jatropha bullockii, Jatropha cinerea, Jatropha excisa
Number of Varieties
Not Available
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Pastures, Roadsides, Warmer regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-12
Not Available
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
Not Available
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Not Available
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
Pink
White, Yellow, Red, Purple, Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
Not Available
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Light Green, Lime Green, Yellow, Green, Ivory
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Dark 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
Palmately Lobed
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
All year
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Bright direct sunlight, Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Dry, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Slightly Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
All year
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Low
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Needs less watering, Water occasionally
In Summer
Ample Water
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
In Spring
Less Watering
Less Watering
In Winter
Less Watering
Less Watering
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Bright direct sunlight, 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
Prune for shortening long shoots, Prune if you want to improve plant shape
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, No fertilizers needed
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Anthracnose, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Rust
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought, Drought and Salt, Heat Tolerance
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Bold
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Not Available
Attracts
Butterflies
Bees, Flying insects, Hoverflies
Allergy
no allergic reactions
allergic conjunctivitis, Eye irritation
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Not Available, Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Good for skin and hair, Removes pimples, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation
Edible Uses
Yes
Sometimes
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Air purification, Insect Repellent, No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Suppresses or replaces native plants, Versatility
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
anti-allergy, epilepsy, Fever, Skin irritation, Skin Redness
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Leaves, Sap, Seeds, Stem
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Oil is used as fuel, Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Used in biomass
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Hedges, Screening, Wind Break, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
JATROPHA
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Barbados nut, purging nut, physic nut, or JCL
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
रतनजोत
In German
Elephant Bush
Purgiernuß
In French
Elephant Bush
purghère
In Spanish
elefante Bush
frailejón
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
jatropha
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
galamaluco
In Polish
Elephant Bush
jatrofa
In Latin
bush elephant
Jatropha
Phylum
Embryophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Euphorbiales
Family
Portulacaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Jatropha
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Dicotyledonous
Tribe
Not Available
Jatropheae
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
Crotonoideae
Number of Species
Not Available
Importance of Elephant Bush and Jatropha
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Elephant Bush and Jatropha. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Elephant Bush and Jatropha 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 Jatropha is anti-allergy, epilepsy, Fever, Skin irritation and Skin Redness. Elephant Bush has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation and Skin Problems while Jatropha 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 Jatropha
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 Jatropha 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 no allergic reactions whereas of Jatropha have allergic conjunctivitis and Eye irritation respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Elephant Bush has no showy fruits and Jatropha has showy fruits. Also Elephant Bush is not flowering and Jatropha is not flowering . You can compare Elephant Bush and Jatropha facts and facts of other plants too.