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Description
jade plant elephant bush 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.
Shipping Notes
- Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
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- Delivery to the USA:
- Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
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Exchange/Return Notes
- We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
- Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
- To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
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4.9 ★★★★★
Based on 22 reviews
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 3
3.5 Stars -- Sturdy but Limited
Color: Purple, Size: Large (Pack of 1)
I got the Barnacle toy in size Large for my ~45 lb mutt. She enjoys food toys, and I wanted to find one sturdy enough that I felt safe leaving her with when I left for work since she tends to destroy her toys quickly.
First thing -- there's no way any dog is going to be able to destroy this. The "rubber" is super thick and a good balance of flexible and sturdy, so she can't do her favorite "pick at a weak edge and slowly disembowel it" trick. I've had it for a couple months now and it looks brand new.
However, it isn't great for feeding her kibble. She eats 1 cup at morning and at night, and none of the compartments fits that comfortably. I don't really feel like dividing her food into 3 portions every day to split it between either. The bigger problem is the hole size, or rather the ratio of kibble-to-hole size. The holes are very big with rubber "fingers" inside to slow the food spill. I've still found that it tends to dump a fistful of kibble all at once, or not let anything go for a long time. This may have to do with my dog's "technique", as described below.
Another problem is that since this has three separate chambers, this toy is not hollow and is surprisingly heavy. While my dog has no problems throwing a kong around (and I mean THROWING a kong around), the weight and asymmetrical shape makes it difficult to throw or roll, which is my dog's preferred way to use a food toy. This toy works best when a dog slaps it with her paws or picks it up and drops it, which may be why my dog gets frustrated with getting her food from it.
What this toy is really great for, for us, is high value treats. If I am leaving at an unusual time and anticipate that she's going to fuss, I can put "the good stuff" in this toy and then she doesn't mind the struggle at all! The different size chambers make this especially nice if I'm breaking up odd sized or home made treats and want her to stay busy for a while. Since it's so sturdy, she can chew on it all she wants, but she has to do the work to get the treats.
All in all-- this toy isn't great for my dog's daily feedings, but it's great for high value treats and a change of pace.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2015
★★★★★ 5
Actually a challenge for my genius dog!
Color: Purple, Size: Large (Pack of 1)
I am pretty sure my dog owns every puzzle toy and treat-dispensing dog toy that exists, and he's able to figure most of them out in less than 5 minutes. Many last no more than 60 seconds before he's solved them.
The Barncle, however, is actually a challenge for him!
The Barnacle has three "compartments, " none of which are connected. All three have a rubber "mouth" that helps keep treats inside. The rubber "mouth parts" are very effective and make it quite challenging to get treats out once they've been placed inside. You can trim the rubber "mouth parts" to make it easier to let treats out, but I'm not doing that. I'm glad that it's not challenge!
The Barnacle keeps my dog occupied for at least 30 minutes, which is a LONG time for my dog who usually has a "What next?" attitude towards toys.
Th only "bad" thing about the Barnacle is that it's so hard to get treats out of, even for humans. Therefore, it could attract vermin if you're not careful to clean it out.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2025
★★★★★ 1
OMG - DO NOT BUY - it smells like noxious poison.
Color: Purple, Size: Medium (Pack of 1), Color: Purple, Size: Medium (Pack of 1)
OMG DO NOT BUY!!!!!!!!!!! I didn’t think the reviews stating the noxious smell could be accurate - OMG OUR WHOLE HOUSE REEKS OF POISON. I LITERALLY FEEL LIKE I MAY BE SICK. OMG OMG OMG.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Great toy for dispensing dinner!
Color: Purple, Size: Large (Pack of 1)
This is one of my puppy's favorite toys! We always try to use toys to dispense his meals, but many of them become too easy for him. Kongs take no time at all to empty. This one seems to provide much more of a challenge, mostly due to the three different sizes of compartments and openings. He'll empty the largest compartment fairly quickly, but the small one almost always has a piece or two of kibble that he just can't get out. This helps to keep him interested in the toy throughout the day.
We use a large breed dog food with larger sized kibble which helps to add to the challenge. The fact that this bounces erratically and doesn't roll smoothly makes it difficult for my dog to develop a method for emptying it quickly. With some other toys, like the Kong Wobbler, he quickly learns to just push it around with his nose. This toy makes him work much harder!
The construction of this toy is very sturdy. We usually feed one meal a day in this, and it's held up well to heavy chewing. I (and my roommates) appreciate that it's made of softer plastic which doesn't make as much noise on the hardwood floors as some of his other toys. The prongs on the openings can be cut to adjust the difficulty, which is nice if you're using different sized kibble or treats. It is a little harder to fill than other toys, but still not terribly difficult.
Overall I've had a great experience with all the PetSafe toys I've tried, and this one is one of the very best!
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Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2015
★★★★★ 5
Great chew toys!
Color: Purple, Size: Medium (Pack of 1), Color: Purple, Size: Medium (Pack of 1)
Keenan LOVES this toy! He will play with it all day. Running around the house, chasing as it bounces in different directions. And he'll be so content chewing on it for long periods of time. It makes an annoying sound when he chews, but I can live with it if it's keeping him entertained. This is the second purple rubber toy from this brand that I've purchased, the other being the squirrel one, which was his favorite until I purchased this for Christmas. They are super durable, his squirrel is still going strong. Even without putting food/treats inside, these are great toys for dogs that enjoy the softer rubber type chew toys. My only con is that it's a little big for him. He weighs 70lbs and I got the medium. It's fine but he has a hard time carrying it because of its size/shape, and he can't catch it when I toss it to him. Think I'm gonna buy the small size to see if it's any better.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2021