Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southern Africa
Europe, Mediterranean
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Mentha spicata
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Temperate Regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-12
3-7
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, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Spreading
Flower Color
Pink
Pink, Lavender
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Light Green
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Oval with toothed margin
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
-
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
In Summer
Ample Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Less Watering
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
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
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Aphids, Red blotch, Spider mites, Whiteflies
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
Yes
Foliage Texture
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
Butterflies
Aphids, Flies, Mites
Allergy
-
bullous cheilitis, contact allergic dermatitis
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, 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
Antifungal, Arthritis, Digestive disorders, Stomach pain
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
Food for animals, Used as a nutritious food item, Used as insect repellent, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in making beverages
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
MENTHA spicata
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Spearmint
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
पहाड़ी पुदीना
In German
Elephant Bush
Grüne Minze
In French
Elephant Bush
menthe verte
In Spanish
elefante Bush
menta verde
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
δυόσμος
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
hortelã
In Polish
Elephant Bush
mięta
In Latin
bush elephant
Coriander
Phylum
Embryophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Lamiales
Family
Portulacaceae
Lamiaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Mentha
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
-
Importance of Elephant Bush and Spearmint
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Elephant Bush and Spearmint. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Elephant Bush and Spearmint 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 Spearmint is Antifungal, Arthritis, Digestive disorders and Stomach pain. Elephant Bush has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation and Skin Problems while Spearmint 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 Spearmint
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 Spearmint 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 whereas of Spearmint have bullous cheilitis and contact allergic dermatitis respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Elephant Bush has no showy fruits and Spearmint has no showy fruits. Also Elephant Bush is not flowering and Spearmint is not flowering . You can compare Elephant Bush and Spearmint facts and facts of other plants too.