Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Succulent
Origin
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, Texas, Canada
Southern Africa
Types
-
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
2530
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Wet lands
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-910-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-1
10-1
Sunset Zone
1, 2, 3, 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
Upright/Erect
Twisted/Contorted
Plant Size
Minimum Height
240.00 cm250.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
300.00 cm121.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow green
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Light Yellow, Ivory
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Orange, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Red, Orange, Orange Red
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
Succulent
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
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, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
-
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 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
-
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
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Butterflies
Allergy
Irritate the mucus membrane, Rash, Skin irritation
-
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
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Sap
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Used to make a black varnish for use in woodworking
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
-
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
TOXICODENDRON vernix
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Poison Dogwood, Poison Elderberry, Poison Sumac, Swamp Sumac
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
toxicodendron vernix
Elephant Bush
In German
toxicodendron vernix
Elephant Bush
In French
TOXICODENDRON vernix
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
vérnix TOXICODENDRON
elefante Bush
In Greek
Toxicodendron vernix
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
TOXICODENDRON vernix
elefante de Bush
In Polish
toxicodendron vernix
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Natrum vernix
bush elephant
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Caryophyllales
Family
Anacardiaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Toxicodendron
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
351
1
27800
👆🏻