Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Flowering Plants, Succulent
Succulent
Origin
South Africa
Southern Africa
Types
Cooper’s ice plant
Hardy yellow
Starburst
Hardy white
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
Not Available
Habitat
Coastal Regions, Mountain tops, Stream side, Suburban areas
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
12-15
10-12
Sunset Zone
Not Available
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Spreading
Twisted/Contorted
Flower Color
White, Yellow, Red, Purple, Orange, Pink, Hot Pink, Fuchsia, Peach
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
Not Available
Fruit Color
Brown
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Blue Green
Green
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Succulent
Plant Season
Spring, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring, Indeterminate
Late Spring
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Low
Watering Requirements
Needs less watering, Requires watering in the growing season
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 pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Shape and thin as needed
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
Mealybugs
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Drought and Salt
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Butterflies
Butterflies
Allergy
no allergic reactions
no allergic reactions
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Medicinal Uses
Diuretic, Dysentry, Liver problems
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Sap, Seeds
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Groundcover, Rock Garden, Wall
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
DOROTHEANTHUS bellidiformis
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Ice Plant, Livingstone Daisy
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
Ice Plant
Elephant Bush
In German
Eis-Anlage
Elephant Bush
In French
Ice Plant
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
Planta de hielo
elefante Bush
In Greek
Plant Ice
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
Planta de gelo
elefante de Bush
In Polish
Ice roślin
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Ice plant
bush elephant
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Caryophyllales
Family
Aizoaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Dorotheanthus
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Not Available
Not Available
Subfamily
Ruschioideae
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
Not Available
Not Available
Importance of Ice Plant and Elephant Bush
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Ice Plant and Elephant Bush. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Ice Plant 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 Ice Plant is Diuretic, Dysentry and Liver problems whereas of Elephant Bush is Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation and Sore throat. Ice Plant has beauty benefits as follows: Not Available while Elephant Bush has beauty benefits as follows: Not Available.
Compare Facts of Ice Plant 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 Ice Plant 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 Ice Plant are no allergic reactions 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. Ice Plant has no showy fruits and Elephant Bush has no showy fruits. Also Ice Plant is not flowering and Elephant Bush is not flowering . You can compare Ice Plant and Elephant Bush facts and facts of other plants too.