Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Succulent
Origin
Mexico, Central America, South America
Southern Africa
Types
-
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
6030
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Coastal Regions
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
11-1510-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
10-1
Sunset Zone
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 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
Upright/Erect
Twisted/Contorted
Plant Size
Minimum Height
150.00 cm250.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
60.00 cm121.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Red
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Dark Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Succulent
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
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
Neutral
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
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs more water during establishment
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
Neutral
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
Pinch or prune as they grow to promote branching and bushiness
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
14-14-14 Fertilizer, Compost
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Anthracnose, Aphids, Red blotch, Rust
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Heat Tolerance, Salt and Soil Compaction
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flowers
Showy
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
Aphids, Squirrels
Butterflies
Allergy
Stomach pain, Vomiting
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Used in parkland
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Anti-ageing, Blackheads, Reduce Bruises
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Shadow Tree, Soil protection
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Nutrients, Weight loss
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Fruits
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Application in Handicrafts, Food for animals, 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
Edible, Herb, Vegetable
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
Manilkara zapota
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
sapodilla , chikoo, Sapota
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
चीकू
Elephant Bush
In German
Breiapfelbaum
Elephant Bush
In French
Sapotillier
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
chicle
elefante Bush
In Greek
sapodilla
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
sapodilla
elefante de Bush
In Polish
Pigwica właściwa, sapodilla
Elephant Bush
In Latin
sapodilla
bush elephant
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Ericales
Caryophyllales
Family
Sapotaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Abelia
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Sapoteae
-
Subfamily
Sapotoideae
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
1341
1
27800
👆🏻