Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Needled or Scaled Evergreen
Succulent
Origin
Northwestern United States, Canada
Southern Africa
Types
-
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
630
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland, Moist Soils, Swamps
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-710-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
8-1
10-1
Sunset Zone
A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 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
Pyramidal
Twisted/Contorted
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,520.00 cm250.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
760.00 cm121.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Yellow
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Brown, Sienna
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green, Bronze
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Scale-like imbricate
Succulent
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Hardwood Cuttings, Rooted stem cutting, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs a lot of moisture in the growing season, when new, water every 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, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
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
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Armillaria root rot, Bark beetles
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
Fine
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Butterflies
Allergy
Asthma, contact allergic dermatitis, Urticaria
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
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
Bronchitis, Cold, Cough, Fever, Sore throat
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Branch, Inner Bark, Leaves, Wood
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Dugout canoes, Making deodorants, Medicinal oil, Paper pulp, Pulp can be used to make rope place mats and other goods, Used as an insecticide, Used to make baskets
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
Feature Plant, Hedges, Screening / Wind Break
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
THUJA plicata
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Giant Arborvitae, Green Giant Arborvitae, Western Arborvitae, Western Red Cedar
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
Pacific redcedar
Elephant Bush
In German
Riesen-Lebensbaum
Elephant Bush
In French
Thuja plicata
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
Thuja plicata
elefante Bush
In Greek
Thuja plicata
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
Thuja plicata
elefante de Bush
In Polish
Żywotnik olbrzymi
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Thuja plicata
bush elephant
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Pinophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Pinopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Pinales
Caryophyllales
Family
Cupressaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Thuja
Portulacaria
Clade
-
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
151
1
27800
👆🏻