Life Span
Perennial
Annual or Biennial
Type
Succulent
Vegetable
Origin
Southern Africa
Mexico, Central America
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Mexican potato,Mexican yam bean
Number of Varieties
30-
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
agricultural areas, Moist Soils, Wet ground
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-129-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
12-8
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm50.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
White, Lavender
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Green, Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Heart-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
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
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Dry soil, Shallow soil
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
From bulbs
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Keep ground moist
In Summer
Ample Water
Average Water
In Spring
Less Watering
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Moderate
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
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
Beetles, Leaf spot, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Shade areas, Shallow soil
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
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Butterflies, Mice
Allergy
-
Irritation to stomach, Itchiness
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Improve skin tone
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Food for animals, Soil protection
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Cold, Fever, Inflammation
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Bulbs, Root
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
PACHYRHIZUS erosus
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Mexican Yam bean
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
Pachyrhizus erosus
In German
Elephant Bush
Yambohne
In French
Elephant Bush
Kłębian kątowaty
In Spanish
elefante Bush
Pachyrhizus erosus
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
Pachyrhizus erosus
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
Pachyrhizus erosus
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Pachyrhizus erosus
In Latin
bush elephant
Pachyrhizus erosus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
Angiosperms
Class
Magnoliopsida
Eudicotyledones
Order
Caryophyllales
Fabales
Family
Portulacaceae
Fabaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Pachyrhizus
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
-
Number of Species
1100
1
27800
👆🏻