Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Succulent
Tree
Origin
Southern Africa
Europe, Northern Africa, Central Asia, Western Asia
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Salix alba, Salix alba 'Vitellina'
Number of Varieties
30400
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
River side, Riverbanks, sluggish streams and rivers, stream banks, Stream side
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-124-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
9-1
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm2,290.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm1,220.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Yellow
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Lanceolate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Early Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Wet Site
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Budding, Grafting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Do not water frequently, Needs very little water
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
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
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 flowers, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Apply N-P-K
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Aphids, Caterpillars, Flea Beetles, Red blotch, Rust, sawflies
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought, Full Sun, Heat And Humidity, Wet Site
Flowers
Showy
-
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
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
-
Allergy
-
Rhinitis
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
Anodyne, anti-inflammatory, Antirheumatic, Antiseptic, Astringent, Hypnotic, Sedative
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
Charcoal, Paper pulp
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Water Gardens
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
SALIX alba
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
White Willow
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
White Willow
In German
Elephant Bush
Oiite Oilloo
In French
Elephant Bush
Le saule blanc
In Spanish
elefante Bush
Le saule blanco
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
Λευκή ιτιά
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
O salgueiro branco
In Polish
Elephant Bush
wierzba biała
In Latin
bush elephant
Populus alba
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Malpighiales
Family
Portulacaceae
Salicaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Salix
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
-
Number of Species
1400
1
27800
👆🏻