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elephant bush succulent bonsai

elephant bush succulent bonsai Shop 'Elephant bush - Portulacaria afra' Care and Info

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Description

elephant bush succulent bonsai Shop 'Elephant bush - Portulacaria afra' Care and InfoIntroducing the Elephant Bush, also known as Portulacaria afra, which is a fascinating and popular succulent garden plant native to South Africa. It belongs to the Portulacaceae family and is known for its unique appearance and easy care requirements. The elephant bush succulent gets its name from its resemblance to the foliage of an elephant's trunk. It is also commonly referred to as the dwarf jade plant, small leaf jade, miniature jade, elephant

Introducing the Elephant Bush, also known as Portulacaria afra, which is a fascinating and popular succulent garden plant native to South Africa. It belongs to the Portulacaceae family and is known for its unique appearance and easy-care requirements.

The elephant bush succulent gets its name from its resemblance to the foliage of an elephant's trunk. It is also commonly referred to as the dwarf jade plant, small leaf jade, miniature jade, elephant food, or the Spekboom. The name "Dwarf Jade Plant" comes from its small, jade-like leaves, while "Spekboom" is an Afrikaans term meaning "bacon tree" due to the plant's edible leaves that reportedly taste like bacon.


The elephant bush plant features small, round, and fleshy pale green leaves that store water, allowing your elephant bush plant to withstand drought conditions. 

The trailing stems of the elephant bush plants are thick and red-hued, which gives them a unique and appealing appearance in hanging baskets.

When grown as a houseplant, the elephant bush typically reaches a height of 1 to 3 feet.

However, if planted outdoors in its native habitat, your Portulacaria afra can grow much larger, reaching heights of up to 20 feet. The elephant bush makes for an excellent bonsai due to its unique growth pattern and ability to withstand pruning. Its thick, fleshy leaves and sturdy branches give it a robust appearance, making it an ideal succulent for shaping into intricate bonsai designs. 

The elephant bush flowers are small, star-shaped, and usually a light pink or lavender color. While the flowers are not the main attraction of this elephant bush succulent, they can add a touch of beauty when they bloom during the spring to late summer.

The elephant bush Portulacaria afra comes in various varieties, including a slow-growing variegated form Portulacaria afra variegata; a trailing growth bush Portulacaria afra prostrata; and a midstripe rainbow bush Portulacaria afra medio-picta, offers a diverse range of beauty in green spaces.

When and How to Water Your Elephant Bush

Like other drought-tolerant jade plants, your elephant bush succulent prefers a watering routine that allows the soil to dry out between waterings. Overwatering can harm the elephant bush plant and cause root rot.

In the summer, during the growing season, you should water elephant bush succulents once or twice a month when the soil is dry. A good rule of thumb is to water this elephant plant when the top 1-2 inches of soil feel dry to the touch. In the winter, during the dormant period,  you probably do not need to water them at all. 

Remember, it's always better to underwater than to overwater the elephant bush plant. This resilient Portulacaria afra plant can tolerate drought conditions better than excessive moisture. So, keep an eye on the soil moisture and adjust your watering schedule accordingly.

Light Requirements - Where to Place Your Elephant Bush Plant

When growing the elephant bush indoors, it thrives in bright, indirect light. Place your elephant bush plant near a window where it can receive plenty of natural bright light, but make sure to avoid direct sunlight, especially during the hottest parts of the day.

If you notice the leaves turning yellow or getting scorched, it's a sign that the Portulacaria afra elephant bush is receiving too much direct sunlight. So, finding that sweet spot of bright, indirect light is key to keeping your elephant bush succulent plant happy indoors.

If you decide to grow your elephant bush outdoors, it loves basking in the full sun. Although partial shade in the afternoon is frequently preferred, these plants need at least six hours of strong light each day to survive.

This is true, especially in hotter climates where the plant may become stressed by the afternoon sun's intense heat.

Your succulents should not be placed in any areas that receive continuous, direct sunlight, as this could lead to burned foliage.

Remember, the elephant bush is a versatile succulent plant and can adapt to different light conditions. Just keep in mind that it prefers bright, indirect light indoors and full sun to partial shade outdoors.

Optimal Soil & Fertilizer Needs 

Elephant succulents are very airy, porous, nutrient-rich well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5- 6.5; succulents require fast-draining soil that dries completely between waterings. Your soil must have a sandy texture and a low water-holding capacity, just like desert soil.  Ideally, you want to use our specialized succulent potting mix that contains 5 natural substrates to promote the development of a strong root system that helps your African elephant bush plant to thrive.   

When it comes to fertilizing your elephant bush plant, it only needs a small amount of fertilizer applied once a year in spring. These succulents prefer a fertilizer with lower doses of NPK, with a maximum ratio of 5-10-5 that is higher in phosphorus than nitrogen.

Hardiness Zones & More 

When it comes to growing the Elephant Bush plant indoors, the Elephant Bush prefers a cozy environment with temperatures between 65°F and 75°F. It can tolerate slightly cooler temperatures, but it's best to avoid extreme cold or frost. If you notice the leaves starting to shrivel or the tips turning brown, it may be a sign that the air is too dry. You can increase humidity by placing a tray of water near the plant or using a humidifier.

If you are living in USDA zones 9-11, you can grow your Elephant Bush plant outdoors year-round. These zones have mild temperatures and are less prone to frost.  

In cooler zones, it can be kept outdoors during the summer and brought in as the temperature drops. 

Elephant Bush can handle average to slightly higher humidity levels outdoors. Just make sure to provide well-draining soil to prevent waterlogged conditions, as excessive moisture can lead to root rot.

Don't worry if your succulents become too hot; they can tolerate triple-digit temperatures in the summer and prefer constant temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Wildlife - Portulacaria afra Attracts the Following Friendly Pollinators

Portulacaria afra have tiny, star-shaped flowers, which bloom in clusters, and are a magnet for friendly pollinators. Bees are particularly drawn to its nectar-rich blooms, while butterflies and other beneficial insects are also frequent visitors. In areas where it thrives outdoors, hummingbirds may be attracted to the vibrant blossoms as well. 

Butterflies
Bees
Hummingbirds
Lady Bugs
Multi Pollinators
Other Birds

According to ASPCA, the Portulacaria afra Elephant Bush is friendly to both humans and pets such as dogs and cats. This makes it a great choice for households with curious pets or small children.

How to Propagate Your Portulacaria afra

This African elephant bush is relatively easy to propagate. It can be grown from stem cuttings, which should be allowed to dry for a day or two before being planted in well-draining soil. The cuttings usually root quickly and can be grown into new, young plants.

Key Takeaways

  1. Elephant Bush (Portulacaria afra) is a fantastic succulent with small, jade-like leaves.
  2. Visually appealing and easy to care for, adaptable for both indoor and outdoor growth.
  3. Tolerates a wide range of warm temperatures, between 65°F and 75°F, and handles higher humidity levels.
  4. It can thrives in bright, indirect light. It is suitable for beginner and experienced plant enthusiasts alike.
  5. Often grown as a seasonal accent plant or houseplant.
  6. Order your Elephant Bush today and add something truly exceptional to your garden.

The Bottom Line

Overall, Portulacaria afra, or Elephant Bush, is a remarkable plant that combines beauty, resilience, and ecological value. Its succulent, jade-like leaves and sprawling growth make it a striking addition to both indoor and outdoor settings, while its ability to tolerate drought and thrive in poor soils underscores its low-maintenance appeal. This plant’s capacity to attract friendly pollinators such as bees and butterflies further enhances its value in promoting biodiversity. With minimal care—bright, indirect light, well-draining soil, occasional watering, and protection from frost—Portulacaria afra can flourish for years, serving as both a stunning decorative element and an eco-friendly choice for any garden or home.

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4.1 ★★★★★
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Navy87Guy
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 5
Paleo Perfected - With the Science to Back It Up!
Format: Hardcover
After experimenting with other versions of the paleolithic-based diet, I was happy to finally come upon Paul and Shou-Ching's book, The Perfect Health Diet. It's a scholarly treatment of a complex subject, but presented in a way that's easy to follow and understand. It combines the best parts of old-time wisdom with cutting edge science to lay out a lifestyle and an approach to health that treats the body holistically. The authors systematically lay out the scientific and evolutionary basis for their approach to health. The fact that they both suffered from serious medical conditions - which were cured by taking this new approach - lends a great deal of sincerity to the writing. In a logical, orderly fashion the book walks through the basis for the diet, then tackles each of the major energy sources (proteins, carbohydrates and fats). Once that groundwork is laid, they address the hidden toxins that are present in most of the foods that comprise the Standard American Diet (SAD - a rather appropriate acronym) and help the reader understand HOW the foods contribute to poor health. Throughout the book, the authors use simple but effective "call out" boxes to highlight some key science behind the diet. They also sprinkle in just the right amount of reader testimonials to highlight how their lives were changed by following the Perfect Health Diet. Those examples are placed in just the right spots so the reader can see how the concept being discussed relates to real people in the real world. The inclusion of a Takeaway at the end of each chapter helps tie all the concepts together perfectly. My only complaint is that they use the word "diet" in the title. While they use it in the academic sense (i.e., the foods that you habitually eat to provide sustenance), too many people only think of "diet" as a restriction in your food intake to promote weight loss. I prefer to think of the authors' book as a "lifestyle", rather than simply a prescription for changing your food intake. That view is reinforced by the holistic treatment of the impacts of circadian rhythm disruption on health - a fascinating chapter that probably could have as much impact on your overall health as your choice of food! I think it's very telling that only a short chapter is actually devoted to the discussion of weight loss -- because it is based upon all of the other principles that have already been outlined. The discussion in the weight loss chapter on the scientific origins of obesity is fascinating and sobering at the same time. Overall, the Jaminets have done a fabulous job of scouring the scientific literature and tying together some popular concepts (the whole Paleo movement continues to gain steam in mainstream society) with a solid scientific underpinning that will go a LONG way toward helping people understand not just WHAT to eat (or not eat) but also WHY. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand how their body functions and how the food you eat impacts your health and longevity. It is well-written, thorough and very convincing!
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Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2013
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JetsYankees1971
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 5
Really enjoyed this book and found it helpful
Format: Kindle
The first night after starting this diet I found myself eating a juicy half pound hamburger without the bread, a sweet potato with butter, a small salad with fresh lemons squeezed on top and some sparkling water. Life could be a lot worse!!!! This book was written by 2 Harvard educated scientists. It is thoroughly researched and made a ton of sense to me. I've dieted a lot in my life. I always lost weight and always gained it back. That's a pretty frustrating way to live. The weight gain and loss roller coaster is awful. Over the last 20 years I've tried Atkins, Paleo Diet, Zone Diet, Weight Watchers, Nutrisystem, South Beach Diet, Mediterranean Diet, Blood type Diet etc etc etc....They all work and they all have flaws which ultimately caused me to stray from them for one reason or another. As an example Nutrisystem is convenient but I don't want to eat that food forever. Atkins and Paleo cut out major food groups PERMANENTLY! They are way too extreme for me. Zone Diet was too much work. Weight watchers with the points was too time consuming. South Beach Diet was a nice fad but I got tired of that also. Anyway, without dragging on too much longer I want to say that the best part of the Perfect Health Diet is its SIMPLICITY! This way of eating doesn't require much thought, planning, or effort. The authors give you a list of foods to eat without asking you to eliminate carbs, fatty foods, meat or dairy. I was taught what carbs to eat and avoid and in what portions. I learned what fatty foods to eat and how often to eat them. I learned about about protein and was taught the right amounts of protein to eat. Most importantly i never feel hungry on the Perfect Health Diet! This diet WILL reduce your food cravings. You are fed well. You eat a lot of fatty foods and still lose weight. You can have dairy in the form of yogurt. You can have starches. You eat fruits and veggies along with lots of eggs, meat, and some fish. Basically you feel healthy because your body gets everything it NEEDS to make you feel GOOD! This diet is the only one I've tried that eliminates food cravings and hunger. I'd give this book 10 stars if I could
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Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2015
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Verified Purchase
CelticPhoenix
Lexington, US
★★★★★ 5
The Best, Readable Single-Source Book On Diet and Health
Format: Hardcover
As other reviewers have said, this is really the best "Paleo 2.0 book" available. For those who haven't yet jumped on the bandwagon, eating like our ancient Paleolithic (and Mesolithic) ancestors will help us avoid many of our chronic diseases and feel good doing it! And yet, the Jaminets also take the approach that a straight meat and veggies diet is simply too low in carbs for a properly functioning immune system and proper thyroid level (carbs are required for basic immune functions like phagocytic attack and mucus secretion, as well as neurological and immune energy which feeds back to thyroid output). They like carb sources found in the paleolithic and mesolithic cultures such as tubers, fruit, dairy (for some) and low-in-antinutrient white rice. Now, to the practical: on this diet my family and I have seen an increased level of energy and overall spunk (skin shine, sleep quality, etc.) compared to when we were on, in sequence, a paleo Zone type of diet (Barry Sears' Zone diet using paleo foodstuffs), and a lower carb Mark Sisson-style primal diet. Basically, this has more saturated fat than the former and more carbs than the latter. We are as lean as we were, but feeling better and without any problems, whatsoever. For those who have chronic infections (read: "lingering health issues"), this book also explains how you can fine-tune your diet and supplementation to fight these infections, whether they are viral, fungal, or bacterial (a different approach for each). The same for athletes. My only criticism is that they only give 1 sentence to the classes of diseases which fare better avoiding starch and, instead, getting their carbs from fruit and honey (such as Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Spondylitis, and other within the class; as well as some other diseases). While this diet/lifestyle is very easy to combine with a GAPS approach, with carbs from simply sugars and not starch, this goes unsaid and the authors tend to prefer starches for most. In short, this is the best book out there for a well-researched, unbiased view on diet and how it impacts our lives and health. I actually recommend for those who really care to read their blog, and then go buy the book for the relatives who probably won't read the blog on their own.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2013
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V. Toniolo
Natrona Heights, US
★★★★★ 3
One of the better food, diet, and health books available, but with significant drawbacks
Format: Kindle
Paul and Shou-Ching Jaminet present the most cogent argument in favor of ancestral-style eating that I have ever read. In fact, I never really understood the logic behind Paleo until I read Perfect Health Diet. I applaud their scientific rigor and willingness to challenge dietary dogma, Paleo or otherwise. There is no question that removing all grains and legumes from one's diet is incredibly effective for people with autoimmune diseases and some other chronic, intractable health conditions. But when taking the evolutionary perspective on human diets it's also important to recognize that many cultures have thrived on grains and legumes for millennia, and humans have evolved some clever ways to extract nutrients from foods that would otherwise be toxic through the use of prolonged soaking, sprouting, and fermentation, all techniques that are very effective at reducing seed toxicity. I think that properly prepared grains and legumes can be a nutritious part of our diets, at least for those of us who do not suffer from autoimmunity. Stephen Guyenet has written excellent posts on legumes (wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2013/11/beans-lentils-and-paleo-diet.html) and grains (wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/search/label/lectins). I also wish that the Jaminets had delved a little bit deeper into the subject of fatty fish from a sustainability standpoint. They recommend that we eat fatty fish, but make no mention of seafood sustainability and the importance of avoiding farmed fish, especially farmed (aka "Atlantic") salmon. Farmed fish are fed soy, corn, and pellets made of smaller fatty fish like anchovies and sardines. Entire small fish fisheries off the coast of Western South America are being destroyed in order to feed our hunger for farmed salmon, while we have plenty of small fatty fish we can eat (but choose not to) here on the west coast of North America (herring, sardines, anchovies, etc.). I bet that the fat profile (3:6 ratio) of farmed salmon is not nearly as good as that of wild salmon and smaller cold water fish. That said, I highly respect and follow their writing and will continue to look forward to their excellent work.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2014
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Maria
Cuba, US
★★★★★ 5
Life changing book
Format: Paperback
Amazing life changing book! I’ve grown so much from reading this book than I have in years. It has opened my eyes to learn more about myself and others - that others have recognized that I’ve changed. I hope others discover the same impact as it has on me!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2026

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