Life Span
Perennial
Annual and Perennial
Type
Succulent
Cactus or Succulent
Origin
Southern Africa
Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, South America
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Not avilable
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Desert
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
Weeping
Minimum Width
Not Available
Flower Color
Pink
Dark Salmon, Sandy Brown, White, Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
Multi-Color
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Not Available
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Not Available
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Not Available
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Not Available
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Succulent
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Not Available
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Alkaline, Neutral, Not Available
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Early Spring, Early Summer, Late Spring, Late Winter, Mid Spring
Repeat Bloomer
No
Not Available
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Grafting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Ample Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Less Watering
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Not Available
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Not Available
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Not Available
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Not Available
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Not Available
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Not Available
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Semi-Double
Fragrant Leaf
No
Not Available
Foliage Texture
Bold
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Not Available
Attracts
Butterflies
Not Available
Allergy
no allergic reactions
Itchiness
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Hanging Basket, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Not Available
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Not Available
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Not Available
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Fruits, Nut
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 Ornamental plant, Used for Landscaping
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Container, Houseplant, Lawns and Turf, Mixed Border, Not Available, Tropical
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
Selenicereus pteranthus
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Selenicereus, Moonlight cactus
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
moonlight cactus
In German
Elephant Bush
Selenicereus
In French
Elephant Bush
Selenicereus
In Spanish
elefante Bush
Selenicereus
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
Selenicereus
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
Selenicereus
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Selenicereus
In Latin
bush elephant
moonlight cactus
Phylum
Embryophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Caryophyllales
Family
Portulacaceae
Cactaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Selenicereus
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Not Available
Hylocereeae
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
Cactoideae
Number of Species
Not Available
Not Available
Importance of Elephant Bush and Moonlight cactus
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Elephant Bush and Moonlight cactus. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Elephant Bush and Moonlight cactus 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 Moonlight cactus is Not Available. Elephant Bush has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation and Skin Problems while Moonlight cactus 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 Moonlight cactus
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 Moonlight cactus 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 Moonlight cactus have Itchiness respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Elephant Bush has no showy fruits and Moonlight cactus has showy fruits. Also Elephant Bush is not flowering and Moonlight cactus is flowering. You can compare Elephant Bush and Moonlight cactus facts and facts of other plants too.