Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Grass
  
Succulent
  
Origin
World/Pandemic, North America, Europe
  
Southern Africa
  
Types
Lustrous Creeping Red Fescue, Rubra trichophylla, Rubra rubra
  
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
  
Habitat
Wide range of ecological site
  
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
2-7
  
10-12
  
AHS Heat Zone
7 - 1
  
10-1
  
Sunset Zone
A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 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
Mat-forming
  
Twisted/Contorted
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Not Available
  
Pink
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Non Fruiting Plant
  
Green, Red
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Tan
  
Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Grass like
  
Succulent
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, 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 Summer
  
Late Spring
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Not Available
  
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes
  
Seedlings, Stem Planting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Low
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Needs 2-3 times watering per week
  
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
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Pruning
Prune grass to maintain level
  
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Fertilizers
fertilize in fall
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
  
Pests and Diseases
Billbugs, Dollar spot, Pythium blight, Red blotch, Red thread, White grubs
  
Pests and diseases free
  
Plant Tolerance
Not Available
  
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
  
Flowers
Insignificant
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Bugs
  
Butterflies
  
Allergy
Asthma
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Ground Cover
  
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Erosion control, Wildlife
  
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
No Medicinal Use
  
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
  
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
  
Leaves, Stem
  
Other Uses
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
No
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Edging, Groundcover, Lawns and Turf, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
  
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
FESTUCA rubra
  
PORTULACARIA afra
  
Common Name
Red Fescue
  
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
  
In Hindi
Red Fescue
  
Elephant Bush
  
In German
Rotschwingel
  
Elephant Bush
  
In French
fétuque rouge
  
Elephant Bush
  
In Spanish
festuca roja
  
elefante Bush
  
In Greek
κόκκινο Φεστούκα
  
ελέφαντας Μπους
  
In Portuguese
Red festuca
  
elefante de Bush
  
In Polish
Kostrzewa czerwona
  
Elephant Bush
  
In Latin
Red Fescue
  
bush elephant
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Embryophyta
  
Class
Liliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Cyperales
  
Caryophyllales
  
Family
Poaceae
  
Portulacaceae
  
Genus
Festuca
  
Portulacaria
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Portulacarioideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available