Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Succulent
Origin
Southern Africa
Southern Africa
Types
Gasteria brachyphylla, Gasteria rawlinsonii
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
1630
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Deciduous forests, River side, rocky banks of streams
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
-999910-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
10-1
Sunset Zone
13, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Rosette/Stemless
Twisted/Contorted
Plant Size
Minimum Height
12.00 cm250.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
10.00 cm121.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Coral
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
-
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Dark Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Tongue shaped
Succulent
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Bright direct sunlight, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
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
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Leaf Cutting, Stem Planting
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
In Summer
Less 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
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove dead leaves
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
Doesn't require fertilization when grown in rich soil
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Fusarium root rot, Red blotch
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Heat And Humidity
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flowers
Showy
Showy
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
Bold
Foliage Sheen
-
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ants, Flies
Butterflies
Allergy
Irritation to intestines, Skin rash
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
For treating wrinkles, Good for the Scalp
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Aging, Blood disorders, Laxative
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Sap
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Making Shampoo, Oil is used in mosquito repellents
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, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
GASTERIA
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Gasteria
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
Gasteria
Elephant Bush
In German
Gasteria
Elephant Bush
In French
Gasteria
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
Gasteria
elefante Bush
In Greek
Gasteria
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
Gasteria
elefante de Bush
In Polish
Gasteria
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Gasteria
bush elephant
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
-
Embryophyta
Class
Monocots
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Caryophyllales
Family
Aloaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Gasteria
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Asphodeloideae
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
161
1
27800
👆🏻