Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Herbs
Succulent
Origin
Europe, Asia
Southern Africa
Types
Thodopuza, Red streaked, Alleppey
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
3030
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Loamy soils, Tropical Forests, Tropical regions, Well Drained
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
7-1110-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-1
10-1
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 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
50.00 cm250.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
100.00 cm121.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Green, Light Green, Yellow green
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Tan, Brown
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Yellow green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Long Elliptic
Succulent
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
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
Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Mid Spring
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Heat Tolerance, Humidity
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes, Root Division
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Requires watering in the growing season
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
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Cut back old stems to the ground, Prune after harvesting, 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
Compost, Fertilize the soil before planting, organic fertlizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Leaf Hoppers, Mites, Scale, Snails
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Shallow soil
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
-
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Caterpillar, Mites, Rabbits, Snails
Butterflies
Allergy
Abdominal distension, Blurred vision, Oral Allergy
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Acne, Anti-ageing, Blackheads, Blood purifying, Making cosmetics, Natural Sunscreen, Remove blemishes, Skin inflammation
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Fixes Nitrogen, Prevent weeds, Provides ground cover
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Abdominal Disease, Acne, Alzheimer’s Disease, Antibacterial, antimicrobial, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Atherosclerosis, Brain disease, Carminative, Cold, Diarrhea, Digestion problems, Eczema, Liver problems, Menstrual Cramps, Treat Parasitic Intestinal Worms, Treatment of ulcers, Urinary tract problems
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Cosmetics, Culinary use, Used as an ointment, Used as colouring in foods, Used as insect repellent
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
Alpine, Cutflower, Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
Curcuma longa
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Turmeric, Curcuma
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
हल्दी
Elephant Bush
In German
Kurkuma
Elephant Bush
In French
curcuma
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
Curcuma longa
elefante Bush
In Greek
κουρκούμη
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
curcuma
elefante de Bush
In Polish
kurkuma
Elephant Bush
In Latin
turmeric
bush elephant
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Zingiberales
Caryophyllales
Family
Zingiberaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Curcuma
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Zingibereae
-
Subfamily
Zingiberoideae
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
1001
1
27800
👆🏻