Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Herbs, Perennial
Succulent
Origin
South-Eastern Asia
Southern Africa
Types
-
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Habitat
Semi desert, Wet forest
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-11
10-12
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 9
10-1
Sunset Zone
-
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Twisted/Contorted
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Shape
Elliptic
Succulent
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Very Fast
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
Tolerances
Wet Site
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Stem Cutting
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs good drainage
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Cut away fading foliage, Cut upper 1/3 section when young to enhancegrowth, 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, Don't use high pH fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Downy mildew, Dry root rot, Rust, Spider mites
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Heat Tolerance, Humidity
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Attracts
Aphids, Bees, Butterflies, Snails
Butterflies
Allergy
Dizziness, Mouth itching, Vomiting
-
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good Cleanser, Good for the Scalp
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Insect Repellent
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Medicinal Uses
Antipyretic, Bronchitis, Cough, Digestive disorders, Ear infections, Expectorant, Laxative, Migraines, Piles, Rheumatism, Throat infection, Treating fever
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Biomass for fuel, Can be made into a herbal tea, Culinary use, Oil is used for aromatherapy, Used as a laxative
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, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
Justicia adhatoda
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Malabar nut, Adulsa, Adhatoda, Vasaka
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
अडुळसा, अडुसा
Elephant Bush
In German
Indisches Lungenkraut
Elephant Bush
In French
Justicia adhatoda
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
Justicia adhatoda
elefante Bush
In Greek
Justicia adhatoda
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
Justicia adhatoda
elefante de Bush
In Polish
Justicia adhatoda
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Justicia adhatoda
bush elephant
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Scrophulariales
Caryophyllales
Family
Acanthaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Justicia
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Subfamily
Acanthoideae
Portulacarioideae
Importance of Malabar nut and Elephant Bush
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Malabar nut and Elephant Bush. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Malabar nut 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 Malabar nut is Antipyretic, Bronchitis, Cough, Digestive disorders, Ear infections, Expectorant, Laxative, Migraines, Piles, Rheumatism, Throat infection and Treating fever whereas of Elephant Bush is Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation and Sore throat. Malabar nut has beauty benefits as follows: Good Cleanser and Good for the Scalp while Elephant Bush has beauty benefits as follows: Good Cleanser and Good for the Scalp.
Compare Facts of Malabar nut 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 Malabar nut 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 Malabar nut are Dizziness, Mouth itching and Vomiting whereas of Elephant Bush have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Malabar nut has no showy fruits and Elephant Bush has no showy fruits. Also Malabar nut is not flowering and Elephant Bush is not flowering . You can compare Malabar nut and Elephant Bush facts and facts of other plants too.