Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Succulent
Origin
Southern Asia, Southeastern Asia, India, Nepal
Southern Africa
Types
Rubber Plant, Rubber Fig
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
6030
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
agricultural areas, Along Railroads, Coastal Regions, Forests, Roadsides, Scrubs, Suburban areas
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1110-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
10-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Twisted/Contorted
Plant Size
Minimum Height
180.00 cm250.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
90.00 cm121.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Yellow, Yellow green
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Red, Dark Green, Crimson
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Red, Dark Green, Crimson
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Red, Dark Green, Crimson
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Dark Green, Crimson
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Elliptic to oblong
Succulent
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
-
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Vegetative Reproduction
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Requires a lot of watering
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Ample Water
In Spring
Moderate
Less Watering
In Winter
Average Water
Less Watering
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune for shortening long shoots
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
don't fertilize in winter
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Mealybugs, Red blotch, Scale, Spider mites, Yellow Leaves
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
-
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flowers
Insignificant
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
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Butterflies
Allergy
Asthma, breathing problems
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
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, soil erosion prevension on hill slopes
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Latex
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Making rubber, Making tyres
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, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Shade Trees, Tropical
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
FICUS elastica
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Rubber Plant
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
रबड़ का पौधा
Elephant Bush
In German
Ficus elastica
Elephant Bush
In French
Ficus elastica
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
ficus
elefante Bush
In Greek
ελαστικός φίκος
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
fábrica de borracha
elefante de Bush
In Polish
gumy roślin
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Flexilis herba
bush elephant
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Rosales
Caryophyllales
Family
Moraceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Ficus
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Ficeae
-
Subfamily
-
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
8001
1
27800
👆🏻