Project Description
Portulacaria afra
“Elephant Bush,” “Elephant Food,” “Dwarf Jade”
Portulacaria afra “Elephant Bush” is a large, bushing succulent with woody stems that can grow to incredible heights when given the proper time, nutrients, and growing conditions. It can also be used in hanging baskets to add “spiller.”
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Quick Look:
Full sun to partial shade
Can be grown indoors if given enough light
Typical water needs for a succulent
Plant grows up to 12 ft (3.6 m) tall
Zone 10 (Minimum 30° F | 1.7° C)
Not cold hardy
Propagation by cuttings
Generally non-toxic to humans and animals
Actively grows in Spring and Fall
Also available from Etsy and Leaf and Clay.
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Care and Propagation Information
Portulacaria afra “Elephant Bush”
Portulacaria afra is a perfect addition to your indoor or outdoor succulent garden. Although a popular name for this succulent is “Miniature Jade,” it is not related to Crassula ovata. “Elephant Bush” also comes in miniature and variegated forms. The non-variegated form is more heat tolerant.
Portulacaria afra is a popular succulent for bonsai.
Watering
“Elephant Bush” has typical watering needs for a succulent. It’s best to use the “soak and dry” method, and allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. Portulacaria afra needs less frequent watering during its dormancy period.
Because the leaves on Portulacaria afra are so thin, it can handle more frequent waterings than other succulents.
Where to Plant
Portulacaria afra is not cold hardy, so if you live in a zone that gets colder than 30° F (1.7° C), it’s best to plant this succulent in a container that can be brought indoors. It does well in full to partial sun. Plant in an area of your garden that gets 6 hours of sunlight a day.
If planting indoors, place it in a sunny window. This succulent tends to stretch easily if not given enough sunlight, however the stretching isn’t as noticeable as other succulents.
How to Propagate Portulacaria afra “Elephant Bush”
Cuttings
To grow Portulacaria afra “Elephant Bush” from cuttings, use a sterile, sharp knife or pair of scissors. Remove a stem from the main plant, and allow it to callous for several days before placing on well-draining soil. Water whenever the soil has dried out completely.
Variations
Portulacaria afra also comes in miniature and variegated varieties.
Uses
Portulacaria afra is an incredible “carbon sponge,” absorbing high levels of carbon from the air.
As the name “Elephant Food” suggests, this succulent is eaten by elephants, but feeds goats and tortoises as well. It is also used in Southern African cuisine, added to salads, soups, and stews to add a sour flavor.
Pairs Well With
From readers like you…
Here’s mine. Had it for about half a year. It gets full morning sun in the hot tropics and I water it about once in 3-4 days. I try to move it in a more shaded area when I am home in the mornings but that only happens 50% of the time️
Struggling with mine…
I love mine! It has a lot of new growth recently and the edges are turning pink! 
I don’t do anything. I hardly water them for weeks maybe even months. So easy to propagate. I just add a cutting to some arrangement and they survive. I live in CA. 
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My elephant bush is losing all of its leaves. I have it in a window that gets sun for the majority of the day (I live in TX and the temperature was over 100 degrees for 49+ days this summer). I use the soak and dry method for watering. What am I doing wrong? Should I move it to a window that doesn’t get so much sun?
What type of soil do you have it in? And does the planter have a drainage hole? It may be holding on to too much water.
How do I know when I have to replant? Also the leaves seem to be dropping. I’m a plant noob.
No problem! This post should help you out:
https://www.succulentsandsunshine.com/faq-items/when-is-it-time-to-repot/
I also have this plant dropping its leaves. It is my first time with a succulent like this. This is such a pretty plant, I want to make sure I take care of it.
– It is not in a sunny window, but is next to one on my desk at work.While it is not direct sunlight, the cubicle wall blocks half of the window, it is definitely bright when it is sunny. I can move it to the window sill if necessary. I also live in the Northeast, and, winter is coming. So I will not be getting as much light in the coming months.
– I am not sure what the soil is, something I bought to use for other plants. If it needs a specific soil, I can change it to that no problem.
– The pot has no drain holes. I repurposed a lovely candle jar. So, if it needs drain holes, when i change the soil, I can change that too!
– Watering, I water it about once a week. I have never heard of the soak and dry method until I read this article.
– If you can suggest a more office tolerant succulent, especially for folks in the wintery northeast? I love having plants on my desk!
Hey Laura! “Elephant Bush” is a great succulent, but can be a bit finicky. 🙂 It does need plenty of light, well draining soil, and does best in a planter with a drainage hole.
A couple ideas for something that may be great for your office are: Sansevieria “Snake Plant”, Kalanchoe tomentosa “Panda Plant”, Schlumbergera truncata “Christmas Cactus”, and Cotyledon tomentosa “Bear’s Paw.”
Thank you so much! I will definitely look at those suggestions. I have more room for plants.
So I fixed the pot and the soil. 🙂 I have moved it to the east facing window.
But, one more question. Since I am in the northeast, and sun will me MIA a lot during the winter, would a grow lamp help? I am worried even though I remediated both the soil and the pot and it is now in the window, it just may not come back.
A grow light will definitely help! Read more about that here.
I’m so sad, I just went outside and noticed my Elephant bush clipping that I propagated has turned brown and part of the bush I cut it from!! I’m guessing it froze??? What can I do to save them, anything?? Please help me, I love my plant and don’t want to lose it!!!
“Elephant Bush” isn’t cold hardy, but if it was only exposed to the frost for a night or two without it becoming too cold, you might be able to save it. Keep it indoors and cut back on watering just a bit until it begins to recover. If the main plant looks too damaged, you may have to propagate the stems by taking a stem cutting.
Um I bought a glass pot for mine and I’ll serve it like a terrarium and it’s fine right? I just have to make sure it have a drainable soil right? Ndnnsn and is it ok to have a light build rather than the Sun?
Read the pros and cons of using glass here. You can definitely use a grow light 🙂
I recvd it as a gift an it’s looking like a hanging plant long branches an the leaves are falling off.. please help
Some varieties of this will trail and hang down, which is perfectly normal. But if the leaves are falling off with just a bump, or with the smallest touch, it’s a sign of over-watering. You’ll want to let the soil dry out completely before watering again.
That was exactly my problem, over-watering; I lost almost ALL of the leaves. There was only two left by the time the plant started to recover. With help from this post, and the team here answering my questions, I was able to save my plant. It still looks pretty sad, but it is bouncing back. I changed the pot to a non-glazed terracotta pot, added a sun-lamp (I have it on from 8PM-4AM, when I am not at work), and changed the soil to half potting soil and half Perlite. I water it only about once every two weeks now. I have a nice little cluster of new growth! Thanks to the crew here!
We’re SO glad it’s helping!!! 🙂 Hooray! 🙂
more of a question than comment; i want to plant Elephant plants in 12-15″ die. x 12″ deep pottery but i fear that the root system will overtake it’s surroundings ?? i live in the Las Vegas, NV. area with desert temps.
and my other container Elephant plants thrive but are so hardy that the root system is being stifled. i would appreciate your feedback. thank you. regards, John G,
Elephant plants can grow large, but their root systems aren’t super deep. You’ll want to only leave 1/2″ to an inch of room around the edges of the pot. If you feel your roots are being stifled, you can move them to a deeper pot.