Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Succulent
Perennial
Origin
Southern Africa
Canary Islands
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Lotus berthelotii
Number of Varieties
304
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Mediterranean region, mild coastal areas, shaded fields, Shaded sites, Well Drained
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-128-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
12-1
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, 9, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Prostrate/Trailing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm20.30 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm30.50 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
Red, Gold, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Gray Green, Silver
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Gray Green, Silver
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Gray Green, Silver
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Spine-edged leaves
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
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Divison
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Water Deeply, Water in morning to avoid prompting diseases, Water more frequently during periods of extreme drought
In Summer
Ample Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Less Watering
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
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
Cut or pinch the stems, 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, Apply N-P-K
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Aphids, Blight, Fusarium root rot, Mealybugs, Mites, Powdery mildew, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought, Full Sun, Heat And Humidity
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Aphids, Mealybugs, Mites, Spider Mites
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Borders, Formal Garden, Ground Cover
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
-
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
-
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 As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Container, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
LOTUS berthelotii
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Parrot's Beak
Winged Pea
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
Parrot's Beak
In German
Elephant Bush
Papageienschnabel
In French
Elephant Bush
Le Bec de perroquet
In Spanish
elefante Bush
Pico de loro
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
Ράμφος παπαγάλου
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
Bico do Papagaio
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Dziób papugi
In Latin
bush elephant
Parrot rostri
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
Streptophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
-
Order
Caryophyllales
Fabales
Family
Portulacaceae
Fabaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Lotus
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Loteae
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
Faboideae
Number of Species
1150
1
27800
👆🏻