Life Span
Annual or Biennial
Perennial
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Southern Africa
Types
Mexican potato,Mexican yam bean
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Habitat
agricultural areas, Moist Soils, Wet ground
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-15
10-12
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Twisted/Contorted
Flower Color
White, Lavender
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Green, Tan
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Green
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Succulent
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer
Late Spring
Tolerances
Dry soil, Shallow soil
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
From bulbs
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
In Summer
Average Water
Ample Water
In Spring
Moderate
Less Watering
In Winter
Moderate
Less Watering
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
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
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, 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
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Beetles, Leaf spot, Red blotch
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Shade areas, Shallow soil
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Butterflies, Mice
Butterflies
Allergy
Irritation to stomach, Itchiness
-
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Improve skin tone
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Environmental Uses
Food for animals, Soil protection
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Medicinal Uses
Cold, Fever, Inflammation
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Bulbs, Root
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Used As Food
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
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
PACHYRHIZUS erosus
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Mexican Yam bean
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
Pachyrhizus erosus
Elephant Bush
In German
Yambohne
Elephant Bush
In French
Kłębian kątowaty
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
Pachyrhizus erosus
elefante Bush
In Greek
Pachyrhizus erosus
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
Pachyrhizus erosus
elefante de Bush
In Polish
Pachyrhizus erosus
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Pachyrhizus erosus
bush elephant
Phylum
Angiosperms
Embryophyta
Class
Eudicotyledones
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fabales
Caryophyllales
Family
Fabaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Pachyrhizus
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Subfamily
-
Portulacarioideae
Importance of Jicama and Elephant Bush
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Jicama and Elephant Bush. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Jicama 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 Jicama is Cold, Fever and Inflammation whereas of Elephant Bush is Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation and Sore throat. Jicama has beauty benefits as follows: Improve skin tone while Elephant Bush has beauty benefits as follows: Improve skin tone.
Compare Facts of Jicama 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 Jicama 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 Jicama are Irritation to stomach and Itchiness whereas of Elephant Bush have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Jicama has showy fruits and Elephant Bush has no showy fruits. Also Jicama is not flowering and Elephant Bush is not flowering . You can compare Jicama and Elephant Bush facts and facts of other plants too.