Table of Contents
What is an Elephant Bush Plant (Portulacaria Afra)?
Portulacaria Afra is a succulent plant that grows as a small bush.
Portulacaria Afra belongs to the Didiereaceae family. If you are addicted to beautiful plants, the Elephant Bush succulent plant comes in a complete package.
Portulacaria Afra has large succulent leaves, and the small pink flowers clustered around its branches are enough to make excellent home decor.
It can be grown indoors with other potted plants or planted in a succulent outdoor garden or hanging basket with other succulent plants.
It is also drought-tolerant and is considered a perennial succulent shrub.
However, the best place to grow this succulent plant is to put it in a pot indoors and let it get a lot of bright light.
Many people confuse Portulacaria Afra with Crassula Ovata (commonly known as the Jade plant).
That’s not the only thing that makes this plant different from jade plants. It has glossy green leaves and slightly smaller segmented stems.
Native to South Africa, they are best grown in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11.
In its native habitat, Portulacaria Afra grows as tall as 6–20 feet; in contrast, as houseplant, it grows slowly and smaller.
Portulacaria Afra has multiple varieties, including:
- Variegata
- Minima
- Aurea (sub-variety of Minima with yellow leaves)
- Medio-Picta (sub-variety of Minima with pink-and-green variegation)
- Lamp Post
- Foliis Variegatis
- Cork Bark
- Mammoth
- Macrophylla
- Skyscraper
Where Does the Name Elephant Bush Come From?
The Portulacaria Afra plant has several names, including Rainbow Bush, Variegated Elephant Bush, Miniature Jade, and Dwarf Jade, due to its similarities in look.
The name “Elephant Bush Plant” originated because the succulent plant is a source of food for elephants. Elephants eat the succulent fleshy leaves, which they find delicious.
Before we go on to care tips, if you are looking for other types of succulents, check out our other post on various succulent varieties.
How to Care for Elephant Bush Plant
Portulacaria Afra, also known as the Elephant Bush plant, is a succulent plant that can be grown indoors or outdoors.
When growing this plant, it is important to provide light and water whenever the soil feels dry.
Fertilize the plant annually with a balanced fertilizer in early spring. Repot the Portulacaria Afra every two years when it reaches its desired size.
Temperature
Portulacaria Afra plants prefer moderate temperatures, ranging from temperatures of 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 27 degrees Celsius) during the day, and 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit (10 to 13 degrees Celsius) at night.
While moderate to high temperatures are not an issue for the Portulacaria Afra plant, if left in a heated environment for an extended time, it may start to wilt.
Lighting
Portulacaria afra (elephant bush plant) requires a lot of sunshine.
During the growing season, which is from spring through summer, place it in direct sunlight.
If you’re concerned about the leaves being scorched by direct sunlight, don’t be; the Portulacaria Afra plant can withstand the heat because it naturally grows in a sunny environment.
But remember, too much sun is not healthy. You might want to shield or shade it and give it some ‘rest’ from direct sunlight if you want to leave it outdoors for a lengthy time.
It’s not challenging to provide indirect sunlight for the Portulacaria Afra elephant bush. Just put it near a window that faces the sun.
Portulacaria Afra is a plant that thrives in the summer but might go dormant in the winter, necessitating more light to keep it alive and healthy.
You can use a grow lamp if you notice your plant losing its color due to not getting enough sunlight to support its growth.
Watering
The Portulacaria Afra plant does not need to be watered often, but it does when the soil dries out.
The best advice is to test the soil’s dryness before watering to determine whether the plant needs water.
Water elephant bush plants more frequently during the growing season than during the wintertime.
In the winter, give this plant just a few infrequent veils of mist with the smallest amount of water possible.
One of the most common errors individuals make when it comes to growing Portulacaria Afra elephant bush is overwatering.
They overwater this plant and don’t allow it enough time to dry up before watering it again.
You’ll end up with a scenario where your soil is saturated, and the roots start to rot.
Soil
Portulacaria Afra thrives in soil that is both well-drained and aerated.
A succulent mix, sandy permeable soil, or horticulture soil is ideal for this plant.
If you want your soil to drain well or need more aeration, you should add soil amendments such as perlite or pumice for better drainage or vermiculite, which would help soil aeration while retaining water and nutrients.
Fertilizer
Add a little fertilizer to Portulacaria Afra plants if you notice the plant is not growing well.
Apply fertilizer throughout the summer, starting at the end of winter. Once the plant has been watered; to avoid overfertilizing, use just half of the amount recommended.
Remember, there is no need to feed Portulacaria Afra elephant bush plants throughout the winter months.
Soluble fertilizer is a good choice for this plant. The reason is that they are easy to add and supply the fertilizer evenly.
Propagation
Portulacaria Afra plants are best propagated by leaf and stem cuttings.
Stem cuttings, however, are easier to grow than leaf cuttings.
First, cut the stem with a sharp knife and plant it in an area with plenty of moisture.
Within the next four to six weeks, the plant’s roots will have formed.
Once you see roots, you can repot the new plants into a separate container.
pests and diseases
Portulacaria Afra elephant bush plants can be infected by pests such as spider mites, mealy bugs, scale insects, and whiteflies.
One possible reason why pests infest elephant bush plants is the excessive watering of the plants.
The moist conditions are a good environment for pests to thrive in.
If you notice pests on your plants, move the plants away from any other plants.
Rubbing alcohol can be used to remove spider mites, mealybugs, and white spots.
If that fails, try using pesticide sprays or neem oil sprays to get rid of pests and prevent them from coming back.
FAQ
How often should you water an elephant bush?
Portulacaria afra elephant bush needs to be watered frequently, but only when the soil is dry to the touch. When there isn’t enough water, the leaves dry up and fall off. Water elephant bushes more often throughout the summer and less frequently during the winter. Allow the soil to dry out for at least four to five days between waterings.
How fast do elephant bushes grow?
Portulacaria afra, or elephant bush, is a slow-growing plant that grows up to 20 feet tall in its native habitat. When propagating, take special care to keep the plant out of direct sunlight for the first 4-6 weeks after it has been planted and to keep the soil wet when it begins to dry out after that. It should take around four to six weeks for them to establish themselves and produce new growth properly.
Is elephant bush a jade plant?
No, it is not. The Portulacaria Afra elephant bush is often mistaken for the jade plant (Crassula ovata). However, it is not a jade plant at all. However, given that it looks like a jade plant, people call it a dwarf jade plant.
Is elephant bush Edible?
Yes, elephant bush plants are edible. Due to their sour flavor, the green leaves are also an integral part of Southern African cuisine. This plant’s crisp, spherical leaves are delicious in salads because of the high content of malic acid they contain. In addition, wild elephants really do eat elephant bush plants; Portulacaria Afra plants are actually an elephant’s favorite food.
Other Portulacaria afra Plants
Although Elephant Bush plants are by far the most famous Portulacaria Afra plant, there are others that you may want to consider.
Conclusion
Portulacaria Afra is a unique plant that can serve succulent plant lovers with many benefits.
You do not need to stress about repotting this plant every few months, as a well-drained potting mix can carry this plant for two years.
References
Lindsey Hyland grew up in Arizona where she studied at the University of Arizona’s Controlled Environment Agriculture Center. She continued her gardening education by working on organic farms in both rural and urban settings. She started UrbanOrganicYield.com to share gardening tips and tactics. She’s happy to talk about succulents and houseplants or vegetables and herbs – or just about anything in a backyard garden or hydroponics garden.