Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Succulent
Needled or Scaled Evergreen
Origin
Southern Africa
Northwestern United States, Canada
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
-
Number of Varieties
306
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Lowland, Moist Soils, Swamps
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-125-7
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
8-1
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Pyramidal
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm1,520.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm760.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
Light Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Brown, Sienna
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Dark Green, Bronze
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Scale-like imbricate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Cuttings, Hardwood Cuttings, Rooted stem cutting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Average Water Needs, Needs a lot of moisture in the growing season, when new, water every week
In Summer
Ample Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Less Watering
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil
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
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
Armillaria root rot, Bark beetles
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
-
Allergy
-
Asthma, contact allergic dermatitis, Urticaria
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
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Bronchitis, Cold, Cough, Fever, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Branch, Inner Bark, Leaves, Wood
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Dugout canoes, Making deodorants, Medicinal oil, Paper pulp, Pulp can be used to make rope place mats and other goods, Used as an insecticide, Used to make baskets
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Feature Plant, Hedges, Screening / Wind Break
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
THUJA plicata
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Giant Arborvitae, Green Giant Arborvitae, Western Arborvitae, Western Red Cedar
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
Pacific redcedar
In German
Elephant Bush
Riesen-Lebensbaum
In French
Elephant Bush
Thuja plicata
In Spanish
elefante Bush
Thuja plicata
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
Thuja plicata
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
Thuja plicata
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Żywotnik olbrzymi
In Latin
bush elephant
Thuja plicata
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
Pinophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Pinopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Pinales
Family
Portulacaceae
Cupressaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Thuja
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
-
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
-
Number of Species
115
1
27800
👆🏻