Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Succulent
Flowering Plants
Origin
Southern Africa
United States
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
-
Number of Varieties
3025
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Rich Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-124-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
8-1
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, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Mat-forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm25.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm50.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
Lavender, White
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Ovate-lanceolate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
-
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Cuttings, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
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
Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial Sun, Partial 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 dead flowers
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Apply 10-10-10 amount
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Leaf spot, Powdery mildew, Rust
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
Mild Allergen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
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
Boils, Eczema, Intestinal disorders
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Flowers, Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
As a tea substitute, Used as eyewash
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
Phlox bifida
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Phlox bifida, Phlox
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
Phlox bifida
In German
Elephant Bush
Phlox bifida
In French
Elephant Bush
Phlox bifida
In Spanish
elefante Bush
Phlox bifida
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
Phlox bifida
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
Phlox bifida
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Phlox bifida
In Latin
bush elephant
Phlox bifida
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Solanales
Family
Portulacaceae
Polemoniaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Phlox
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Phlocideae
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
Polemonioideae
Number of Species
167
1
27800
👆🏻