Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Flowering Plants
Succulent
Origin
America, Europe
Southern Africa
Types
Clump verbena, Moss verbena, Annual Verbena, Brazilian verbena, Sandpaper Verbana
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
5030
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Forest edges, Hillside, Woods
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
3-910-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
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
-
Twisted/Contorted
Plant Size
Minimum Height
6.56 cm250.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
10.50 cm121.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Blue, Dark Purple, Light Purple, Red, White
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
-
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green, Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green, Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oblovate
Succulent
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Early Spring, Late Autumn
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Well drained
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Fall, Early Summer, Fall, Late Spring, Late Summer, Summer
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do not water frequently, Medium, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, 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, Slightly Acidic
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Well drained
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune for shortening long shoots, Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune lower leaves, Prune regularly, Prune to control growth
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
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
-
Bold
Foliage Sheen
-
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Butterflies
Allergy
Arthritis, Asthma, Chest Pain, Itchiness, Whooping Cough
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
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
Arthritis, Gallbladder Diseases, Itching, Jaundice, Joint pain, Kidney problems, Liver problems, Metabolic disorders, Sore throat, Upset stomach, Urinary tract problems
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Root
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Air freshner, Can be made into a herbal tea, Cosmetics, Decoration Purposes, Economic Purpose, Employed in herbal medicine, Oil is used for aromatherapy, Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for flavoring in Liquors, dairy products, gelatins,puddings, meats, candies, etc., Used for fragrance
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
Bedding Plant, Bonsai, Container, Edible, Herb
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
Purpletop Vervain
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Verbena
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
verbena
Elephant Bush
In German
Eisenkraut
Elephant Bush
In French
verveine
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
Verbena
elefante Bush
In Greek
λουίζα
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
verbena
elefante de Bush
In Polish
werbena
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Grindelia
bush elephant
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Caryophyllales
Family
Verbenaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Verbena
Portulacaria
Clade
-
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
2501
1
27800
👆🏻