Portulacaria afra

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Plant
ID 1159 Portulacaria afra
Botanic Name Portulacaria afra
Common Name Jade Plant, Elephant's Foot, Elephant Bush
Family Name Portulacaceae
Cultivars 'Foliisvariegatus', 'Tricolor, 'Variegata'
Origin South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Zone 9-11
Growth Type Cacti & Succulents
Bark Type Fissured or Wrinkled
Foliage Type Evergreen Water Use Low
No. of Species
Growth Habit Upright-bushy Growth Rate Fast
Height 2 - 5 m (7 - 17 ft) Spread 1.5 m (5 ft)
Plant Overview
This upright succulent shrub has thick trunk with grey bark and short rounded branches forming a domed crown. It has fleshy glossy green rounded leaves and the small pink saucer-shaped flowers appear in dense clusters during summer.
Leaf
Type Simple Additional Information
Shape Obovate
The fleshy textured glossy dark green broad obovate leaves are up to 20 mm (¾ in) long by 15 mm (2/3 in) wide and have a flat upper surface and a convex underside. The petiole is short and the apex is obtuse.
Arrangement Opposite
Margin Entire
Colour Glossy dark green
Size 15 - 20 mm ( 0.6 - 0.8 in )
Flower
Perfume Odorless Additional Information
Shape Crateriform
The tiny pale rosy-pink crateriform flowers have 5-obovate-oblong petals and a slender pedicle up to 5 mm (¼ in) long. They are arranged in a terminal or axillary cyme in fascicles that is held just above the foliage on the upper branches in summer.
Inflorescence Cyme
Colour Pink
Size 3 - 5 mm ( 0.1 - 0.2 in )
Flowering in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Fruit
Type Capsule Additional Information
Colour Pink
The small 5 mm (¼ in) long 3 angled, winged pendant capsule opens from the top. It is glossy translucent pink and contains tear-shaped seeds up to 2 mm (1/13 in) long. The seeds are viable but the plant is normally reproduced vegetatively.
Edible No
Bird Attractive No
Size 3 - 5 mm ( 0.1 - 0.2 in )
Fruiting in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Environment & Cultivation
Natural Soil Well drained, poor-fertile, dry-moist, sandy-stony to loamy soil, pH 5.5-7.5
Container Pots, tubs, planter boxes, under glass in frost prone climates
Climate Warm temperate
Aspect Full sun, open position, drought and mildly frost tolerant
Pest & Diseases No major pest or disease problem, may suffer from root rot in wet soils
Fertiliser If grown in a container apply low nitrogen liquid fertiliser monthly during the growing period
Pruning Not normally required, trim to contain during spring, can be trained as a bonsai subject
Cultural Uses Propagation
The Jade Plant is commonly grown for its attractive tree-like habit and its succulent foliage. It is planted in small to medium size gardens as a specimen along borders or used in a sunny rockery. It is also used as a potted specimen.
Take cuttings during spring to summer apply bottom heat. Do not allow the media to become wet, as the cutting will rot.
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