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growing portulacaria afra lare

growing portulacaria afra lare Shop 'Elephant bush - Portulacaria afra' Care and Info

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Description

growing portulacaria afra lare 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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D Booker
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★★★★★ 5
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Miranda Macleod and TB Markinson are like the most awesome author duo for sapphic romcoms. Even though they publish really good books individually, when they come together it’s like magic and in “Two of a Kind” they’ve done it again. Maise’s dream is to be able to finally complete her undergrad degree, but that requires money which means she’s stuck in her not so great job. A conference in Las Vegas provides an opportunity to let loose a little when she encounters Drew a charmingly uber confident rancher from Wyoming. But things may have gotten a little more loose than expected when she awakens in the cold harsh morning light. 👀 When the scene is Las Vegas you know the crazy is going to happen, and the storyline doesn’t disappoint. From an intolerance for drinking, helpful cocktail waitresses 😆, pink Cadillacs to the infamous drunken phone call I snort laughed my way through the shenanigans the two MCs get up to. The funnies continue as the scene shifts to home ground, but at the same time is able to weave in complex issues like trust, abandonment, imposter syndrome which gives the narrative some nice depth. The side characters were really nicely done too, providing some of funniest lines and serve as key catalysts for some interesting plot twists. I enjoyed this book immensely and was quite sad it had to end. This author duo is now firmly on my favorite list and I’ll probably read anything published by them. 🥰
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Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2022
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Ps58
Lexington, US
★★★★★ 5
One wild night you can't remember brings bad choices to the surface- only in Vegas it's a future.
Format: Kindle
I recieved an ARC copy of this book and was delighted with all the feels. A crazy meet in Vegas and one wild night changes so many lives. Drew carries the weight of so much and trusts no one. Relationships are not her strong trait. A Wyoming ranch girl at a rodeo trying to win a contest to save the ranch. She meets Maisie who is a straight girl that catches her hatwhen it flies off Drew's head. Sparks fly and a connection is felt. They bump into each other couple more times and end time in Vegas with one forgotten wild night. I rode a wonderful bunch of feels with this book. I yelled more than once at these characters who clearly cared for each other but could not get out of their own way. So stubborn and full of false bravado I just want them to share thoughts. It was a delicate balance to navigate the mine field which was their past and the surprise that is their future. The best part of the story was watching how love was changing everyone on the ranch. They give new meaning to running away from your feelings. It was a sweet, often funny and challenging romance. I was curious how or if they would find ways to share feelings. It kept me turning pages just to see what was next. I really enjoyed the characters and the ranch life. A good stranger to lover and then get to know you story.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2022
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Raven reads
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 4
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I enjoyed this story much more than I expected to. Maisie and Drew couldn’t be more different in many ways but they make a good pair. Both women are stubborn and determined and they butt heads more than once but that is ultimately what makes them work. This is a good sapphic story and is worth a read.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2025
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Carina
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 5
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Well developed characters and great story. What happens in Vegas does not stay in Vegas. I will highly recommend this book.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2026
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Emily G
Omaha, US
★★★★★ 5
Everything
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TB Markinson + Miranda MacLeod = winning combination. This book was everything I needed. To be fair, having read their previous collaborations, as soon as I saw this book I hit "buy" without even paying much attention to the blurb. I was not disappointed. When I eventually got around to reading the blurb (post-purchase) I was even more excited to read it. The storyline was great, the story well-written, the characters quite likeable and relatable and all in all a great book. I went through all the feels with this: there were parts that made me laugh, parts where I had to put it down because I really wanted to shake the characters, parts where I went "awww" and couldn't hold back a tear. So, long story short, read this book, you won't regret it
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