However, it’s easiest to grow from cuttings that are propagated in the summer. Portulacaria Afra “Elephant Bush” is a ragged succulent bush having a place with the Didiereaceae family. Elephant bush houseplants (Portulacaria afra) thrive in bright light in a warm, draft free room. Elephant bush is a drought-tolerant plant, ideally suited to growing in arid, desert-like environments.. Portulacaria afra f. variegata is a slow-growing, much-branched succulent shrub with attractive, reddish-brown stems and glossy green leaves heavily variegated with cream. The plant is a succulent with fleshy, glossy leaves that grows as a small bush. Gardening in Tucson, Phoenix, Arizona and California Back to Plant List. Also available in a variegated form. Portulacaria afra plant prefers growing in dry, rocky slopes and outcrops. Portulacaria afra is a succulent shrub or small tree that spread horizontally with red stems and round, fleshy leaves. Like most succulents Portulacaria afra is easy to grow from cuttings. This succulent plant is sometimes called Baby Jade or Elephant Food. Portulacaria afra can form up to 80% of the elephant's diet. You can find out everything you need to know about these plants right here. Jade is Crassula ovata, a completely different Family, Genus and Species. Portulacaria Afra has small round leaves and thin branches like a miniature jade plant and are drought tolerant. Portulacaria afra (UNF) elephant bush This plant can develop a stout succulent stem. In this article, Andre Swart, a keen bonsai enthusiast shares of his 15 years of experience growing this species as bonsai. This is natively to South Africa. Spekboom. Portulacaria afra is a perfect inclusion to your indoor or outdoor succulent backyard/garden. I pruned my Portulacaria bonsai otherwise known as Dwarf Jade, Elephant bush or Spekboom and now have a large selection of cuttings to grow as pre-bonsai. Like Like. At Etsy, we pride ourselves on our global community of sellers. Temperature. Portulacaria afra is not a dwarf jade plant. Although a preferred name for this succulent is “Miniature Jade,” it is not connected to Crassula ovata. How To Care for Portulacaria Afra Bonsai Sunlight. It looks similar to the unrelated Jade Plant but it has rounder and smaller pads than the Crassula ovate variety. From the outset sight, numerous frequently think ‘afra’ is a smaller than expected Crassula ovata in light of their comparative appearance. Portulacaria afra is an easy going succulent that has an attractive growth habit, with small green succulent leaves on a red coloured stem. Each Etsy seller helps contribute to a global marketplace of creative goods. Probably the green leaved wild type is … A very hardy, drought-tolerant plant best grown in desert and succulent karoo gardens. The species' name, afra, is a specific epithet to the continent of Africa. Reply. It has small round succulent leaves and red stems that can survive arid conditions. Description of Dwarf Jade Plant, Portulacaria afra. Portulacaria afra ‘Variegata’ (tricolor or rainbow elephant bush) first appeared as a sport (variant growth) of Portulacaria afra.It has cream-and-green leaves and pendant, trailing stems; and forms low, shrubby mounds that spread several feet tall and wide. Both leaf and stem cuttings work equally well. Keep it indoors in a small pot and it will stay a petite, bonsai plant. Reportedly, wild plants can grow to about fourteen feet tall. You can also use an all-purpose potting soil (which is a cheaper alternative) and combine it with perlite, or a combination of these three materials I mentioned. adamaskwhy says: June 27, 2015 at 4:22 pm. Propagation. By supporting SproutSucculents, you’re supporting a small business, and, in turn, Etsy! “Elephant bush” also is available in miniature as well as variegated kinds. More infos: it’s better to cover the pot with a freezer bag. In its natural environment, this semi-evergreen plant can grow up to 20 feet tall, and, as mentioned above, it often serves as food for some native cultures and a lot of wildlife species including elephants, kudus, black rhinos, goats, etc. Portulacaria afra is a sweet little trailing succulent. Click To Purchase. Elephant bush (Portulacaria afra) is a semi-evergreen shrubby flowering succulent native to South Africa.In the wild, elephant bush grows in dry, sunny locations. Scientific name: Portulacaria afra Synonyms: Spekboom, Bacon Tree, Pork Bush, Elephant’s Food, Elephant Bush, Dwarf Jade Plant. Portulacaria afra sometimes is confused with Crassula ovata (Jade plant) because the plants look alike, but portulacaria leaves are smaller and the stems are wiry. Habit: It is a medium-sized succulent shrub, or small soft-wooded tree, 2-5 meters tall with a few main trunks and numerous side branches. Portulacaria afra is an attractive and robust succulent shrub species that is grown around the globe and is often used ornamentally as a house plant, pruned to resemble a bonsai. As a succulent, it can grow in just about any environment. It usually grows up to 15 feet (4.5 m) … Portulacaria afra. The Distribution of Portulacaria afra. Grow your Portulacaria afra indoors if you live in a temperate zone. Many animals, including ostriches and elephants, feast on the sour-tasting foliage for nutrition. Mini Jade aka Elephant Bush (Portulacaria afra 'Green') (Jacquin): This stemmed succulent is particularly versatile and easy to grow.Plant it outdoors in warm climates and it can grow into a dense, 4' tall shrub. In some areas, spekboom is used for fodder during droughts. Care and Propagation Details. To be able to propagate from the mother plant, you should wait several years for the main plant to produce an offset. The Portulacaria Afra or the Elephant Bush is a perennial succulent shrub native to South Africa. see more; Family Didiereaceae . Portulacaria afra grows 6 to 8 feet tall and spreads indefinitely.Use it as a backdrop plant, and/or prune into a hedge. To start this process, use a sharp knife and remove an offset from the main plant. The species' leaves are also classed as a local delicacy, being used in salads and soups. Gardening in Tucson, Phoenix, Arizona and California. Portulacaria Afra ‘Elephant Bush’ propagates from the offsets. Remove a leaf or stem, let it dry so the wound callouses over a little and then simply push it into a sharp propagating mix. In container gardens these plants will stay much smaller and are often used in bonsai to look like trees. The small, rounded, fleshy leaves are pale silvery-green with wide cream margins, carried on dark red stems. Portulacaria armiana is a large succulent-leafed shrub bearing grey-green leaves and long perennial whipstick-like branches with sprays of soft white flowers.It is endemic to the lower Orange River Valley, growing in the Ai-Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier National Park. The reddish-brown stems sustain upward reaching up to be 8’ to 15’ feet tall. When … One of portulacaria afra’s common names is dwarf jade. ... Propagation Cuttings. Although it’s recommended that you grow it indoors for all the benefits we just laid out. They are only hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 10 and 11. Portulacaria afra. It … Even though not related, some people say it resembles Crassula ovata “Jade”.I suppose it gets this comparison because it can grow a “woody” stem over time and appear “tree or shrub ” like. However, it is the most preferable to remain a smaller plant growing only a few feet tall. Growing Portulacaria Afra Bonsai from Seed or By Propagation. Portulacaria Afra-Elephant Bush Care, Types and Propagation - Succulent Plant Care Portulacaria Afra-Elephant Bush Plant Care, Types and Propagation. Portulacaria afra, "Porkbush" or “Spekboom“ is a popular succulent plant found on rocky slopes in the Karoo scrub and semi-arid landscapes. P. afra ‘Prostrata’ and ‘Green Carpet’ are both low growing and make an excellent ground cover in dry areas. It is what most Americans and Europeans call it. Portulacaria Afra Pronounced por-tew-luh-KAR-ee-uh AF-ruh is a bushy succulent shrub belonging to the Didiereaceae family. Jan 20, 2020 - You searched for: SproutSucculents! 10° - 26°C (50° - 78°F) This variety of Portulacaria … it’s discovered developing in dry, rough inclines. Portulacaria afra (known as elephant bush, dwarf jade plant, porkbush and spekboom in Afrikaans) is a small-leaved succulent plant found in South Africa.These succulents commonly have a reddish stem and leaves that are green, but also a variegated cultivar is often seen in cultivation. Portulacaria afra can be grown from seed or by propagation. To be on the safe side, I use cactus mix combined with perlite or a very porous mix like cactus jack. A fine hedging plant, this bush has small, fleshy, round leaves and becomes covered in small pink flowers in early summer. This is a somewhat symbiotic relationship between the plant and the elephant ~ during the feeding the elephant breaks off branches that later re-root and establis ... read more h new stands of plants. It has small round soft green glossy padded leaves with burgundy red stems. Indoors or outdoors suit it just fine. And it has as many names as it has uses. In fact, like most succulents, elephant bush is easy to reproduce from cuttings. The elephant bush (Portulacaria Afra) is a native of South Africa. Propagation of Elephant Bush Succulents. Growing Elephant Food: Portulacaria afra flowers climate zones watering pruning propagation in hot, dry climates and Arizona and California. To emphasize, take Portulacaria afra cuttings in spring or summer for best results. Another great hint is to let the cutting … Portulacaria Afra generally likes fast-draining soil. Inconspicuous flowers are produced in small clusters Details 'Variegata' is a well-branched, succulent shrub that can reach 3m tall but is usually grown as a houseplant. It is also known as Elephant Bush, Dwarf Jade, Mini Jade, Elephant food, Chinese Jade Plant, Pork Bush, Rainbow Bush, Rainboe Elephant Bush, Spekboom (Afrikaans for bacon tree), miniature jade or small leaf jade (but not related to Crassula ovata … Feb 16, 2019 - Portulacaria Afra 'Elephant Bush' how-to guide in caring, propagating, sunlight requirements, watering, soil and growing needs. Discover the unique items that SproutSucculents creates. The images are showing the cultivar Portulacaria afra “Variegata” which isn’t a fast rooter. Genus Portulacaria are shrubby succulents with fleshy stems, branches and leaves. Elephants eat it, but you need not fear for your Portulacaria unless you have a pet pachyderm. Numerous frequently think ‘afra’ is a native of South Africa to remain a smaller than expected Crassula ovata, keen! Porous mix like cactus jack better to cover the pot with a freezer bag few feet tall variety. 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