Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Succulent
Origin
Southern Africa
Southern Africa
Types
Hoodia albispina, Hoodia flava, Hoodia bainii
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
Not Available
Habitat
Desert
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
12-15
10-12
Sunset Zone
12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Twisted/Contorted
Flower Color
Red, Pink, Tan
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
Not Available
Fruit Color
Not Available
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Blue Green, Gray Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Not Available
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Blue Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Blue Green, Gray Green
Green
Leaf Shape
Not Available
Succulent
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Very Slow
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
Spring
Late Spring
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Low
Watering Requirements
Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Ample Water
In Spring
Average Water
Less Watering
In Winter
Once a week
Less Watering
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
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
No pruning needed in the early stages
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
No fertilizers needed
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Full Sun, Shade areas
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Bold
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Attracts
Flies, Insects
Butterflies
Allergy
Dry Mouth
no allergic reactions
Aesthetic Uses
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Weightloss
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Environmental Uses
Food for insects
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Medicinal Uses
Weight loss
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Stem
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Used for its medicinal properties
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
Hoodia gordonii
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
ǁhoba, Ghaap
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
Hoodia
Elephant Bush
In German
Hoodia
Elephant Bush
In French
Hoodia
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
Hoodia
elefante Bush
In Greek
Hoodia
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
Hoodia
elefante de Bush
In Polish
Hoodia
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Hoodia
bush elephant
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Gentianales
Caryophyllales
Family
Apocynaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Hoodia
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Stapeliae
Not Available
Subfamily
Asclepiadoideae
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
Not Available
Importance of Hoodia and Elephant Bush
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Hoodia and Elephant Bush. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Hoodia and Elephant Bush as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Hoodia is Weight loss whereas of Elephant Bush is Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation and Sore throat. Hoodia has beauty benefits as follows: Weightloss while Elephant Bush has beauty benefits as follows: Weightloss.
Compare Facts of Hoodia vs Elephant Bush
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Hoodia vs Elephant Bush and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Hoodia are Dry Mouth whereas of Elephant Bush have no allergic reactions respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Hoodia has no showy fruits and Elephant Bush has no showy fruits. Also Hoodia is not flowering and Elephant Bush is not flowering . You can compare Hoodia and Elephant Bush facts and facts of other plants too.
