Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Succulent
Perennial
Origin
Southern Africa
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Canada
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
-
Number of Varieties
302
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Mixed deciduous forest, shaded fields, shaded moist road banks, shaded riverbanks
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-123-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
9-2
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm30.50 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Yellow
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Palmate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial shade, Full Shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Early Spring, Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Root Division, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
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
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial shade, Full Shade
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
Pest Free, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
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
-
Allergy
-
Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
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
antihelmintic, cathartic, Emetic, malignant neoplasms, Stomach pain
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Rhizomes, Root
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Edible, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Wildflower
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
PODOPHYLLUM peltatum
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
American Mandrake, Mayapple
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
अमेरिकी विषैला पौधा
In German
Elephant Bush
amerikanisch Alraune
In French
Elephant Bush
mandrake américain
In Spanish
elefante Bush
mandrágora americana
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
american μανδραγόρα
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
mandrake americano
In Polish
Elephant Bush
amerykański mandragory
In Latin
bush elephant
Latin mandragoras
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Ranunculales
Family
Portulacaceae
Berberidaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Podophyllum
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
-
Number of Species
12
1
27800
👆🏻