Unless you have a pet pachyderm, you need not worry about your Portulacaria because elephants eat it. The plant develops into a tiny bush and is a succulent with meaty, glossy leaves. Only USDA plant hardiness zones 10 and 11 are suitable for them. Elephant bush houseplants (Portulacaria afra) flourish in a warm, draft-free environment with bright sunshine. You can cultivate an interesting example of elephant bush that can either be a stand-alone plant or a component of a complex succulent garden by following a few simple maintenance instructions.
What size can an elephant bush reach?
In habitats where it is a preferred meal of elephants, elephant bush plants can grow to heights of 6 to 20 feet (2 to 6 meters). It is considerably more likely to only grow a few feet (about one meter) tall inside the house. The bush has small, soft green leaves on thick, succulent brown stalks that resemble miniature jade plants.
Elephant bush houseplants do well in indoor environments like those found in homes. Warm temperatures and bright light are necessary for portulacaria care. The bush produces tiny pink blooms clustered at the terminals of the branches after a wintertime dormancy period.
Elephant bush seeds can I plant outside?
Cool tiny elephant bush can let you get into the succulent obsession. In South Africa, elephants love eating elephant bush, which lives up to its name. If you reside in a warm climate with sporadic lows of no lower than 30 degrees Fahrenheit, you can grow it outdoors. Elephant bush is a low-maintenance indoor plant that can be grown if you reside in a cooler region.
The distinctive reddish-brown stems of this drought-tolerant jade plant clone contrast exquisitely with the glossy, spherical, variegated, 3/4-inch succulent leaves. It grows slowly, but as the stalks ripen, they become thicker, giving the plant an aged appearance even when it is young. Elephant bushes are ideal for growing in hanging baskets because of their somewhat expansive or cascading habits. It can slowly develop to a height of several feet when planted in the ground, and because it is evergreen, it can be used as a screen or hedge.
Why is it known as a “elephant bush”?
South Africa is the natural home of the succulent elephant bush (Portulacaria afra). The succulent plant’s popular name, elephant bush, derives from the fact that elephants eat it. The succulent’s fleshy leaves are consumed by elephants. The elephant bush plant’s variegated leaves are also edible to goats and tortoises.
Is an elephant bush a houseplant or a garden plant?
Elephant bush is a native of South Africa, where it grows on rocky, semi-arid hillsides. It is also referred to by its botanical name, Portulacaria afra. Because it is a succulent plant, it may thrive in practically any environment. Both indoors and outdoors, it thrives, but it’s preferable to grow it inside. Additionally, it has as many names as applications. In its native South Africa, people refer to it as Spekboom. Elephant’s Food and Miniature Jade are some other names for it.
Elephant bushes and the traditional jade plant, Crassula ovata, another succulent, are commonly mistaken for one another. Even though they are similar in many ways, classic jade can be identified by its unsupported vertical growth. The elephant bush, on the other hand, needs support because it appears to droop and is unable to maintain its heavier leaves.
If you’re wondering where this succulent got its name, it has quite obvious origins. Juicy leaves and stalks of the plants are enjoyed by many animals, including elephants and goats. 80 percent of an elephant’s food in the wild comes from this plant. Tortoises may eat from this unusual succulent as well.
This hardy plant can thrive in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11. This succulent’s reddish-brown stems shoot upward and reach an average height of 8 to 15 feet. The likelihood is that it will only grow to a height of a few feet, though, considering its sluggish rate of growth.
Is elephant bush growing quickly?
A popular indoor plant, the elephant bush (Portulacaria afra) is a succulent that may grow outside in warm areas.
South Africa is home to the semi-evergreen shrubby blooming succulent known as elephant bush (Portulacaria afra). Elephant bush naturally grows in arid, sunny climates. Elephant bush is a drought-resistant shrub that thrives in dry, desert-like conditions.
USDA zones 10 and 11 are favorable for Portulacaria, or elephant bush plants. Small elephant bush plants cannot withstand cold temperatures, despite the fact that Portulacaria afra shrubs may tolerate mild frost. Low temperatures, below 30F (-1C), harm and even kill plants.
Elephant bush is a shrub-like plant or small tree that, under the right circumstances, can reach heights of 8 to 15 feet (2.5 to 4.5 meters). However, elephant bush stems only reach a height of a few feet when grown as a succulent in a pot indoors. The succulents are perfect for growing in hanging baskets or on high shelves because of their trailing, green stalks.
Elephant bush is another succulent species with flowers. Portulacaria afra produces masses of star-shaped flowers in tight clusters when the conditions are ideal for growth. On the ends of stems, these pink or white blooms bloom. However, indoor elephant bush blooming is uncommon.
Elephants love to eat portulacaria afra, hence its popular name, “Elephant Bush.” Porkbush and spekboom are two additional common names.
Elephant bushes are also referred to as small jade plants because of their resemblance to jade plants (Crassula ovata). However, there is no connection between jade plants and elephant bushes. For instance, elephant bushes grow more quickly and are more resilient than jade succulent plants. Another distinction is that jade leaves (family Crassula) are slightly toxic, whereas elephant bush is an edible succulent.
The Crassula ovata in an image (jade plant). Although they are unrelated, the elephant bush (Portulacaria afra) and the jade plant are similar.
Could you prune an elephant bush?
Elephant bush, Portulacaria afra, is a South African perennial succulent shrub that is grown in succulent gardens all over the world. In our region of the world, it is simply planted as a seasonal accent plant or low-maintenance houseplant. It is a rocky outcrop or slope that can be found from the Little Karoo in the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape northward into KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland, Mpumalanga, the Limpopo Province, and farther north into Mozambique. It is also sometimes called elephant food or elephant plant; dwarf jade, miniature jade, or small leaf jade (but is not related to jade plant, Crassula ovata);
Although it is thought to belong to the Portulacaceae plant family, which only includes species found in Madagascar, molecular phylogenetic studies indicate this genus belongs to the Didiereaceae. According to recent studies, P. afra is a superior “carbon sponge” that can efficiently absorb more carbon from the air than most other plants (since it can grow using both normal and CAM pathways despite challenging climatic conditions) and remove more carbon from the atmosphere than an equivalent amount of deciduous forest.
In mild regions, this upright, multi-stemmed shrub or small tree with soft woods can reach heights of 8 to 15 feet (hardy in zones 9- 11). Round to oval-shaped, fleshy, virtually sessile (lacks a discernible petiole), 1/2–3/4 inch long leaves are flattened and thick. The tapering branches and brittle, fleshy, reddish-brown stems that support the opposing, glossy leaves eventually turn a grayish color. The branches and trunk have a woody inner tissue despite being succulent. If not clipped, the stiff, disorganized branches will develop into a thicket. In the event that heavy branches break, they frequently take root where they land and start new plants. Jade plant-like in appearance, but with much smaller leaves that are typically closer together on thinner stalks.
The leaf was once employed as a medicine for a number of minor diseases. It is edible and is frequently consumed in southern Africa, mainly in salads or soups to provide a sour flavor. Because of its capacity to stay succulent through periods of scorching heat and dryness, it is commonly consumed by domestic and wild animals and is a favorite diet of tortoises. Elephants do consume the plant, leaving behind the lower, spreading branches and numerous broken twigs when they strip the branches of the leaves. These roots eventually help the colony to grow and thicken, giving rise to new thickets called “spekboomvelds.”
The plant cannot survive because other animals, including goats, devour it from the ground up. Except in places like parks or reserves where non-native browsers are restricted, overgrazing and inadequate regeneration are causing elephant bush populations to decline. This is because P. afra seed has a difficult time germinating in its native habitat.
After a dry winter without irrigation, plants in their natural habitat (or in regions like Southern California where they can be planted in the ground) produce a profusion of small, unnoticeable pink or white blooms in late spring or early summer. The flowers are difficult to cultivate. At the tips of the branches, clusters of flowers are created. Five pointed petals and conspicuous stamens are features of the star-shaped blooms. Tiny, clear to pink, berry-like dry fruits with one seed each follow pollinated flowers.
Elephant bushes thrive best in hanging baskets, as part of mixed succulent dish gardens, or as delicate bonsai specimens in the Midwest because of their dense branching, which lends even young plants a venerable appearance. By pinching or trimming just above a pair of leaves, the plant may easily be retained in practically any size or form because it readily generates buds whenever branches or even leaves are removed.
The succulent plant’s compact root ball fits into standard shallow bonsai pots nicely and requires less continual care because it can tolerate drying better than more classic bonsai subjects like maples or evergreens. To add contrast in color and texture, stage plants in containers alone with other potted plants. However, despite the fact that they may grow in very little soil, because of their top-heavy succulent leaves and stems, plants may need to be anchored with a rock or stake until they are well-established. The stems’ crimson hue works well as a color echo with plants with red, purple, or dark foliage, and the medium-fine texture of the foliage contrasts nicely with wide-leaved annuals or perennials like coleus or heucheras. To thrive, Portulacaria afra needs exceptionally well-drained soil and bright light. Avoid using a lot of sand since the particle size tends to be small and will fill pore spaces more quickly than other materials. Instead, use cactus mix or a bespoke potting medium with generous amounts of small pea gravel, poultry grit, pumice, or other non-porous minerals. The best pottery to use for better moisture evaporation is unglazed pottery. Typically, a south-facing window inside is the best option, but eastern or western exposures are also suitable. Too much direct sunlight may burn the foliage or cause the tips of the leaves to turn yellow or red, which some people love. To locate the best position for optimum growth, some location-testing may be necessary. After all threat of frost has gone, potted plants can be brought outside for the growing season. If a plant is suddenly relocated from inside a house to full sun outdoors, the leaves are likely to become burnt. Instead, gradually adapt the plant to the new environment. When the nighttime temperature falls below 40°F, go back inside. If there is less light indoors than there was outdoors, it can lose some leaves when it transitions.
Elephant bushes are quite drought resilient, yet with enough water, they develop more quickly and have lusher foliage. It is vulnerable to root rot in constantly damp soil, so take care not to overwater it. Winter irrigation should be minimized. Withhold water until the lower leaves start to shrink, which could take several months, unless the indoor climate is extremely light and warm. Once the day lengthens in the spring, begin watering sparingly once more, waiting until the soil has dried to a depth of one inch before doing so. Plants in pots need fertilizer every month during the growing season (or more frequently if pruning a lot to grow a dense plant in a small container). Repot the plant when the container is full or when the roots are poking through the drainage holes. Although mealybugs can be a problem, especially indoors, this plant has few pests. It does not tolerate some pesticide applications, like many succulents do. Chemicals with a petroleum base should be avoided, or tested on a small number of leaves first to ensure that the material won’t harm the leaves.
This plant can be grown from seed, however cuttings are the most common method of propagation. Within 4 to 6 weeks in any kind of potting medium at mild temperatures, stem cuttings can easily root. The optimum times to take cuttings are in the spring or summer, and the cut areas should be given a few days to callus before being placed in the rooting media. They can also take root in liquid. Even leaves that are broken off by accident while trimming or performing other tasks have the potential to take root.
There are many different kinds, but the majority of them can only be found at specialized nurseries. It is conceivable that some mislabeling occurs, which could lead to the sale of identical plants under several labels. The green varieties are typically larger and more robust than the variegated varieties.
- ‘Aurea’ is a compact type, and in full sun, the young leaves are a vivid yellow.
- Because of its fissured, corky bark, “Cork Bark,” chosen by a bonsai expert, is coveted for bonsai.
- The slow-growing variegated variant “Foliis variegatus” is perfect for container culture.
- The leaves on “Limpopo” are substantially bigger. It is the species’ most northern native form (P. afra forma macrophylla).
- The variety known as “Medio-picta” has red stems and green leaves with pale patterns radiating from the center.
- Low-growing varieties that are good for use as ground covers are “Prostrata” and “Low Form.”
- Variegata has a more compact, upright form, lighter-colored leaves with pink accents and white or cream edges than the species, although it is less tolerant of direct sunlight.
Elephant bush: Is it harmful to dogs?
The leaves of the Portulacaria Afra “Elephant Bush” are edible and safe for people and animals. On the website of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), you can find helpful advice as well as a thorough list of plants that are hazardous and harmless to cats, dogs, and other indoor pets. If you have any suspicions about poisoning, call your neighborhood vet right away or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.
Consider giving these Portulacaria Afra ‘Elephant Bush’ a try if you’re searching for a simple, low-maintenance succulent plant that will pay off for years and years to come. You won’t be sorry. I discovered this amazing plant because to a misidentification, and it has since grown to be one of my all-time favorites.
Where is Portulacaria Afra, often known as the “Elephant Bush”? For suggestions on where to buy these and other succulent plants online, visit my resource page.
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You’ve come to the correct location if, like me, you enjoy succulents. This website is a repository for the succulent-growing knowledge I’ve accumulated over the years and am still learning. Although I am by no means an expert on succulents and cacti, this website was created as a result of years of hard work, love, and many mistakes and learning opportunities.