Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Succulent
Grass
Origin
Southern Africa
Mediterranean, Northern Africa
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Erianthus ravennae, Saccharum ravennae
Number of Varieties
30190
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
marshes, Riverbanks
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-126-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
9 - 6
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm240.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm120.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
Purple, Silver
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Purple
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
White, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Purple, Tan
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Purple, Tan
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Grass like
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Late Summer, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings, Vegetative
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Water once every two or three weeks
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
Loam
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 back all stems to the same height
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
0-10-10 NPK fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Drought, Edema
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Birds
Allergy
-
Noxious Weed
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Borders, 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
Erosion control
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
-
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Leaves
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Cultivated for fodder
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Cutflower, Dried Flower/Everlasting, Feature Plant, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
SACCHARUM ravennae
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Hardy Pampas Grass, Plume Grass, Ravennagrass
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
Plume Grass
In German
Elephant Bush
Plume Gras
In French
Elephant Bush
Plume Herbe
In Spanish
elefante Bush
Penacho de hierba
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
Plume Grass
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
Plume grama
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Pióropusz Trawa
In Latin
bush elephant
Kessinger Grass
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Lilopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Cyperales
Family
Portulacaceae
Poaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Saccharum
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
-
Andropogoneae
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
Panicoideae
Number of Species
1400
1
27800
👆🏻