Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Palm or Cycad
Succulent
Origin
United States, Southeastern United States
Southern Africa
Types
Rhapidophyllum hystrix
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
1530
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Cold Regions, Subtropical climates
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-1010-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-6
10-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Twisted/Contorted
Plant Size
Minimum Height
180.00 cm250.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
180.00 cm121.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Light Yellow, Lavender
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Dark Red, Brown, Sienna
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Needle like
Succulent
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Very Slow
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs small amount of water
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
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune to control growth, 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, can go long without fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Cold climate, Frost
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
Coarse
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Rabbits, Small mammals
Butterflies
Allergy
drowsiness, Scratches
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
bank hedging, Ornamental use
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, Ethnobotanic
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Aging, Frostbite
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Application in Handicrafts, Showy Purposes
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
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
RHAPIDOPHYLLUM hystrix
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Needle Palm, Porcupine plant
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
सुई ताड़
Elephant Bush
In German
Nadel -Palme
Elephant Bush
In French
palmier aiguille
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
palmera aguja
elefante Bush
In Greek
βελόνα φοίνικα
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
palmeira agulha
elefante de Bush
In Polish
Igła palma
Elephant Bush
In Latin
acus palma
bush elephant
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Arecales
Caryophyllales
Family
Arecaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Rhapidophyllum
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Corypheae
-
Subfamily
Coryphoideae
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
101
1
27800
👆🏻