Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Succulent
Origin
North America, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Canada
Southern Africa
Types
-
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
2030
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Woodland Garden Canopy
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
3-1110-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
10-1
Sunset Zone
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
1,830.00 cm250.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
8.50 cm121.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Tan, Sandy Brown
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Green, Sandy Brown
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
oblong or obovate
Succulent
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
-
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
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
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
Average Water Needs
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, 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
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
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Blackspot mold
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
-
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
Beetles, Birds
Butterflies
Allergy
Miscarriage, Rash
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Beautiful Skin, Heals Damaged Hair, Strong, beautiful hair
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
Demulcent, Diuretic, Expectorant, Nutritive
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Inner Bark, Leaves
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Chewed as a thirst quencher, Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as a thickener in soups, Used to make a twine
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
Shade Trees
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
ULMUS rubra
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Slippery Elm
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
Slippery Elm
Elephant Bush
In German
Rotulme
Elephant Bush
In French
Slippery Elm
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
olmo resbaladizo
elefante Bush
In Greek
Slippery Elm
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
Slippery Elm
elefante de Bush
In Polish
Slippery Elm
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Lubricus Elm
bush elephant
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Urticales
Caryophyllales
Family
Ulmaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Ulmus
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
201
1
27800
👆🏻