Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Succulent
Perennial
Origin
Southern Africa
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Canada
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
-
Number of Varieties
302
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
gardens, Hardwood forests
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-125-7
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
7-5
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm15.20 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm12.70 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
White
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Light Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Butterfly shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial shade, Full Shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Late Spring, Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Divison, Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Medium
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, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial shade, Full 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
Remove deadheads, Requires very little pruning
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
No fertilizers needed
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Bees, Butterflies
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
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
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Cancer, Diuretic
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Flowers, Root
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
-
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Feature Plant, Groundcover
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
JEFFERSONIA diphylla
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
-
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
Twinleaf
In German
Elephant Bush
Twinleaf
In French
Elephant Bush
Twinleaf
In Spanish
elefante Bush
Twinleaf
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
Twinleaf
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
Twinleaf
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Twinleaf
In Latin
bush elephant
Twinleaf
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Ranunculales
Family
Portulacaceae
Berberidaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Jeffersonia
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
-
Number of Species
12
1
27800
👆🏻