Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southern Africa
Southeastern United States
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Not Available
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Dappled Shade, Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden Canopy
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-12
5-9
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Pyramidal
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Red, Orange Red
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Not Available
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Oblong to ablanceolate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Early Summer, Summer
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Not Available
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
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
Acidic
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial 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
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Nitrate based fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Beetles
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
Butterflies
Birds
Allergy
no allergic reactions
no allergic reactions
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beautification
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Hair Conditioner, Skin Problems
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Cardiac, Diuretic, Refrigerant, Tonic
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Bark, Leaves
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
It is a remedy for treating fevers, Used in making tea, Used in treatment of mouth ulcers
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Feature Plant, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
OXYDENDRUM arboreum
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Sourwood
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
Sourwood
In German
Elephant Bush
Sourwood
In French
Elephant Bush
Sourwood
In Spanish
elefante Bush
Sourwood
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
Sourwood
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
Sourwood
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Sourwood
In Latin
bush elephant
Sourwood
Phylum
Embryophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Ericales
Family
Portulacaceae
Ericaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Oxydendrum
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Not Available
Oxydendreae
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
Vaccinioideae
Number of Species
Not Available
Importance of Elephant Bush and Sourwood
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Elephant Bush and Sourwood. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Elephant Bush and Sourwood 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 Sourwood is Cardiac, Diuretic, Refrigerant and Tonic. Elephant Bush has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation and Skin Problems while Sourwood 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 Sourwood
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 Sourwood 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 Sourwood have no allergic reactions respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Elephant Bush has no showy fruits and Sourwood has showy fruits. Also Elephant Bush is not flowering and Sourwood is not flowering . You can compare Elephant Bush and Sourwood facts and facts of other plants too.