Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Succulent
Origin
Eastern Africa, Southern Asia, Southeastern Asia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia, Australia
Southern Africa
Types
Mareer, Manjak
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
1530
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Saline Soils, Sandy areas
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1510-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
10-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Twisted/Contorted
Plant Size
Minimum Height
760.00 cm250.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
670.00 cm121.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Yellow, Gold, Orange Red
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Light Green, Chocolate
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
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oval
Succulent
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Pinch or prune as they grow to promote branching and bushiness, Remove damaged 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
Root rot, Snails
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Drought and Salt
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
Coarse
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Butterflies
Allergy
Dizziness, Throat itching, Vomiting
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Making cosmetics, used as a dye
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Absorbs greenhouse gases, No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Shadow Tree
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Aging, Hair Loss
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Fruits, Leaves
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Making Shampoo, Showy Purposes, Used as Biofuel, 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
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
CORDIA subcordata
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Beach Cordia, Island Walnut, Kou, Sea Trumpet
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
Cordia subcordata
Elephant Bush
In German
Cordia subcordata
Elephant Bush
In French
Cordia subcordata
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
Cordia subcordata
elefante Bush
In Greek
Cordia subcordata
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
Cordia subcordata
elefante de Bush
In Polish
Cordia subcordata
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Cordia subcordata
bush elephant
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Caryophyllales
Family
Boraginaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Cordia
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
11
1
27800
👆🏻