Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Succulent
Vegetable
Origin
Southern Africa
North America, Central America, South America
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
-
Number of Varieties
301
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Clay soil areas, Loamy soils, Sandy areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-12-9999
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
12-4
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 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
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm180.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
-
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
White, Yellow, Light Yellow, Peach
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Green, Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Long Linear
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Needs watering once a week, Never Over-water, Over-head 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
Clay, Loam, Sand
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
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, Well-rotted manure
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Aphids, Armyworm, Beetles, Flea Beetles, Leaf spot, Red blotch, Seedcorn maggot, Worms
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Bold
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Aphids, Beetles
Allergy
-
Asthma, Diarrhea, Headache, Nausea, Runny nose, Skin rash, sneezing, Vomiting
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, 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
Food for animals, Food for birds, Food for insects
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Iron, Potassium, Vitamin C
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Kernel
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used as a nutritious food item, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Edible, Herb, Vegetable
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
ZEA mays var rugosa
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Sweet Corn
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
स्वीट कॉर्न
In German
Elephant Bush
Mais
In French
Elephant Bush
Le maïs sucré
In Spanish
elefante Bush
Maíz dulce
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
γλυκό καλαμπόκι
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
milho doce
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Kukurydza
In Latin
bush elephant
Dulcis frumentum
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Cyperales
Family
Portulacaceae
Poaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Zea
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
-
Andropogoneae
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
-
Number of Species
11
1
27800
👆🏻