Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Succulent
Origin
Central America, South America
Southern Africa
Types
Willow Leaf, Sieva Lima, Dixie Speckled
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
230
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Humid climates, Subtropical climates, Warmer regions
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-1110-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
10-1
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Twisted/Contorted
Plant Size
Minimum Height
60.00 cm250.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
20.00 cm121.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Ivory
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Green
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
Willow-shaped
Succulent
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
-
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
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
Indeterminate
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
High
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Allow to dry out slightly between watering, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
In Summer
Not so frequently
Ample Water
In Spring
Alternate Days
Less Watering
In Winter
Drought Tolerant
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
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune to control growth
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
organic fertlizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Armyworm, Bean rust, Bean weevils, Corn earworm, Cucumber beetles, Curly top, Damping off, Darkling beetles, Earwigs, Fusarium root rot, Grasshoppers, Leafhoppers, Loopers, Lycaenid pod borers, Lygus bugs, Mosaic viruses, Nematodes, Powdery mildew, Saltmarsh caterpillar, Seedcorn maggot, Slugs, Snails, Spider mites, Stink bugs, Thripes, White mold, Whiteflies
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flowers
Insignificant
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
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Butterflies
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
-
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
cholesterol-lowering, constipation, Digestive disorders, Fiber, Heart problems
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Seeds
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
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
PHASEOLUS lunatus
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Butter Bean, Lima Bean
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
सेम फली
Elephant Bush
In German
Limabohne
Elephant Bush
In French
Haricot de Lima
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
Haba
elefante Bush
In Greek
Γίγαντας
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
feijão-Lima
elefante de Bush
In Polish
Lima Bean
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Lima Bean
bush elephant
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fabales
Caryophyllales
Family
Fabaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Phaseolus
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Phaseoleae
-
Subfamily
Faboideae
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
401
1
27800
👆🏻