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Description
portulacaria afra poisonous to cats Succulent 'Elephant Bush' 4" PotBotanical Name: Portulacaria afra Common Names: Elephant Bush Dwarf Jade Porkbush Spekboom Mini Jade Plant The Portulacaria afra 'Elephant Bush' delights with its vibrant green, perfectly round succulent leaves that create a lush, tree like appearance while requiring virtually no care to thrive. This charming South African native features thick, glossy jade green leaves densely packed along sturdy brown stems, creating an adorable miniature tree
Botanical Name: Portulacaria afra
Common Names: Elephant Bush • Dwarf Jade • Porkbush • Spekboom • Mini Jade Plant
The Portulacaria afra 'Elephant Bush' delights with its vibrant green, perfectly round succulent leaves that create a lush, tree-like appearance while requiring virtually no care to thrive. This charming South African native features thick, glossy jade-green leaves densely packed along sturdy brown stems, creating an adorable miniature tree effect that brings year-round greenery and natural sculptural beauty to any indoor space with remarkable drought tolerance.
This exceptional drought-tolerant beauty combines vibrant green elegance with unmatched low-maintenance care, making it perfect for busy plant lovers, beginners, frequent travelers, or anyone seeking a resilient plant that thrives on neglect. Enjoy year-round lush green foliage that stores water efficiently while maintaining its charming tree-like form - all with complete confidence around your beloved pets and family members.
Complete Care Guide
Light Requirements ▼
- Bright, indirect light promotes healthy, vibrant green growth
- South or west-facing windows provide ideal growing conditions
- Tolerates direct sunlight and adapts to various light levels
- Some direct sun enhances the glossy green leaf color
- Extremely adaptable to lower light conditions indoors
Watering Instructions ▼
- Water deeply but infrequently - allow soil to dry completely
- Extremely drought-tolerant and thrives on neglect
- Can survive weeks without water once established
- Overwatering is the only real threat to this hardy succulent
- Water even less frequently in winter months
Humidity & Temperature ▼
- Low humidity: 30-50% - thrives in dry conditions
- Temperature range: 65-85°F (18-29°C) with excellent heat tolerance
- Tolerates dry indoor air exceptionally well
- No special humidity requirements needed
- Avoid temperatures below 50°F (10°C)
Potting & Fertilizing ▼
- Use well-draining cactus/succulent potting mix
- Ensure excellent drainage with pots that have drainage holes
- Feed sparingly - monthly during growing season only
- Prefers to be slightly root-bound for best growth
- Repot only when severely overcrowded, every 3-4 years
Propagation & Maintenance ▼
- Incredibly easy to propagate from stem or leaf cuttings
- Cuttings root quickly in dry soil or even just sitting on top
- Can be pruned and shaped like a bonsai tree
- Remove any dead or yellowing leaves as needed
- Fast-growing and extremely forgiving of mistakes
Styling Ideas for Your Elephant Bush
Bonsai Styling
Perfect for pruning and shaping into miniature trees
Succulent Gardens
Beautiful centerpiece for drought-tolerant collections
Bright Windowsills
Thrives in sunny spots where other plants struggle
Low-Water Displays
Perfect for busy lifestyles and frequent travelers
Shipping & Potting Information
Your plant ships in its current nursery pot and will need to be repotted into a decorative container of your choice. The beautiful ceramic pot shown in the product images is for styling inspiration only and is not included with your purchase. This allows you to select the perfect decorative pot that matches your home's unique style and décor.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Elephant Bush different from Jade Plant?
While they look similar, Elephant Bush has smaller, rounder leaves and grows faster than traditional Jade plants. It's also more drought-tolerant and easier to care for, making it perfect for beginners who want the jade plant look with even less maintenance.
Can I really neglect this plant?
Yes! Elephant Bush is one of the most forgiving plants you can own. It actually prefers to be forgotten about and can survive weeks without water. The biggest mistake people make is overwatering - this plant thrives on neglect.
Can I shape it like a bonsai tree?
Absolutely! Elephant Bush is excellent for bonsai-style pruning and shaping. It responds well to trimming and can be trained into beautiful miniature tree forms. Regular pruning encourages bushier growth and maintains the desired shape.
Is this plant safe around pets and children?
Yes! Portulacaria afra is completely non-toxic to cats, dogs, and humans, making it a perfect worry-free choice for families who want to enjoy its vibrant green foliage and low-maintenance beauty safely throughout their home.
How fast does Elephant Bush grow?
Elephant Bush is a relatively fast-growing succulent that can develop into a substantial plant within a year or two with proper care. Its quick growth makes it very satisfying for beginners who want to see results relatively quickly.
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Exchange/Return Notes
- We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
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4.7 ★★★★★
Based on 17 reviews
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 5
Joy restored!
Format: Paperback
Now, to be honest, I've been a John & Stasi Eldredge reader for a long time. I love their books and their writing styles. But more than their skills with language is their transparency and candor. If you get the chance to meet them, you'll see that who they are in person is just how they portray themselves in their books. They're honest. They're kind--both with themselves and with others and they're consistently dedicated to telling the truth--no hype. No bait and switch.
Now, to Defiant Joy. This is a book for those who have lost joy. This is a book for those who have been blinded to the subtle creep of disappointment and cynicism that has tragically become the filter through which they see life. Let's be honest. Life can really suck sometimes. And it's both understandable and inevitable that joy is harder and harder to find...much less experience. Stasi has lived enough life to understand that condition. She shares her own struggles and disappointments--all of which give her credibility when she invites her readers to consider seeking joy in the midst of less than joyful circumstances.
"Defiant Joy" is a fitting title for those who don't want to give up yet; who don't want to give in to resignation. And that's the invitation Stasi gently offers--there is another option beside resignation, cynicism, depression and disillusionment. Joy! Who would have thought?
Stasi writes like she talks. Reading her work is like sitting down with a good friend for an honest and frank conversation about what really matters. She's the kind of friend we all long to have--one who tells us what we need to hear instead of what we want to hear; one who tells us the truth, even when we've lost hope of ever finding it. You won't find any relativism or warm-fuzzy self-talk. This is not a self-help book. Stasi has suffered too much to offer simplistic answers to some of the most difficult questions.
I highly recommend this book. It's on my suggested reading list for the community I lead. Stasi is one battle-experienced traveler who's offering other weary travelers hope for the journey ahead. I'll bet money you'll discover joy again.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2019
★★★★★ 5
You can experience joy!
Format: Paperback, Format: Paperback
What is joy? How does it compare to happiness? From where does joy come? How can we experience joy every day despite the pain and sorrow that we all experience?
Stasi Eldredge writes honestly and poignantly from places of pain and sorrow in her own life - but doesn't leave us there. She leads us into hope, into beauty and into a new depth of life in God. She teaches us how to cultivate joy in really practical - and achievable - ways.
I was especially struck by her walking through St. Patrick's Breastplate - an ancient prayer - and how I can turn from a place of failure and shame based on my performance to the King and His character and hide myself in Him.
"I need mercy, and I know it. In that knowing comes a great gift. I turn my heart again to my kind and understanding God and confess to Him that I need mercy. His answer swamps my heart with a too-good-to-be-true reality that leads to a crumbling of hopelessness and shame. My self-loathing collapses into His love. My self-condemnation melts into His arms that welcome and soothe. I have blown it. The blowing now has become the wind of the Holy Spirit. Ruah is here. His breath shepherds my heart into my Father's, and there mercy triumphs over judgment."
I encourage you to read this book. God will use it to restore your soul, to bring water to your dry and weary soul, and to help you find rest in His strong arms. You will not feel condemned, but encouraged. I found hope in its pages.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2018
★★★★★ 5
Good
Format: Paperback
Good
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2026
★★★★★ 4
Excellent, inspirational, challenging
Format: Kindle
Stasi doesn't just support her vision that God wants us live joyously with scripture, she acknowledges the challenges to that, the pain we experience in life, and then gives us practical advice for applying God's love through those times to become deeper, better, more loving individuals on the other side. I wish I had read this book before my Daddy was called home, but I guess I wouldn't have been the same person if I hadn't experienced that pain alone. Defiant Joy leads you beyond surface Christianity and challenges you to see God more closely.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2019
★★★★★ 5
Love itttt
Format: Paperback
Such a great book! Everyone should read it
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2025