Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Succulent
Bulb or Corm or Tuber
Origin
Southern Africa
Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, Mediterranean, Turkey, Western Asia
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Mountain silverbell , Rosea
Number of Varieties
303
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Floodplains, low mountains, Lower slopes, secondary forest
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-125-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
9-5
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
21,22
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm25.40 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm30.50 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
White
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Several shades of Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Acuminate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
-
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
-
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Spring, Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Layering, Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
occasional watering once established
In Summer
Ample Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Less Watering
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
-
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
-
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, 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
Prune grass to maintain level, 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
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought and Salt
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
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Bees, Flying insects
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
along a porch, deck or patio, Beautification, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes, Wild gardens
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
Decoration Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
ORNITHOGALUM nutans
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Drooping Star-of-Bethlehem, Nodding Star-of-Bethlehem, Silver Bells
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
Silver bells
In German
Elephant Bush
Silver bells
In French
Elephant Bush
Silver bells
In Spanish
elefante Bush
Silver bells
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
Silver bells
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
Silver bells
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Silver bells
In Latin
bush elephant
Silver bells
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
Angiosperms
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Ebenales
Family
Portulacaceae
Asparagaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Halesia
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
-
Number of Species
14
1
27800
👆🏻