If you’re looking for a beautiful plant that is easy to take care of and looks great indoors, outdoors, or hanging down, then you need a Portulacaria afra. Also known as the elephant bush, these plants come in various colors and heights.
Types of elephant bush include yellow rainbow bush, cork bark elephant bush, Dwarf elephant food, and Liliput elephant bush. All types require heat exposure, minimal watering every few weeks, and routine trimming. Additionally, all elephant bushes can be propagated to create brand-new plants.
In this article, I’ll cover all 8 different types of elephant bush that you can grow in your home. Also, I’ll discuss all you need to know to provide the best care for optimal growth.
1. Elephant Bush (Portulacaria afra)
Elephant bush, also known as elephant food, is a slow-growing succulent that looks like it has vines that grow outward. It is associated with good luck, prosperity, and fortune in some cultures.
This plant is the most common and well-known elephant bush species. It has long and dark brown stems that resemble branches. In addition, it also has light green leaves that, like many other succulents, are round, small, and firm to the touch.
This plant can grow anywhere from 8 to 15 feet (2.4 to 4.6 meters) tall in the wild. However, it will grow shorter when kept indoors or outside your home. This is primarily a result of routine trimming regularly to maintain the growth from exceeding well past its enclosure.
To provide the best temperature conditions for your elephant bush, keep it around room temperature or between 75-90 degrees Fahrenheit (23.9 to 32.2 degrees Celsius). Your plants can be stored indoors or kept outdoors. However, if they are outdoors, they cannot be kept in excessive heat for long periods, or they will quickly perish.
If there is cold weather, your elephant bush will survive as long as it does not fall below 30 degrees Fahrenheit (-1.1 degrees Celsius). Otherwise, your plants will not be able to regulate themselves properly and will freeze over.
Watering
Succulents are fragile when it comes to watering. Overwatering can lead to a rapid decline in your plant’s health. Underwatering can result in your plants shriveling up over time.
You should water your elephant bush once every 2 weeks. When watering, only provide enough to soak through the soil to reach the roots. You can achieve this better by using a specialized squeeze bottle that lets you get right under the base of the plant and reach the top of the soil.
If you live where the weather is hotter or drier than average, you may need to water every 1-2 weeks instead. This is because while the plants prefer heat, some temperatures cause the Portulacaria afra to dehydrate quicker.
No matter how frequently you water, you must select a container with some form of drainage hole so that the excess water can escape. If the water does not exit the container, it can lead to mold growth, fungus, or root rot.
Soil and Pot Conditions
An elephant bush is best kept in dry soil and leaves lots of space for water to filter through. For the best results, use cactus soil, sandy soil, or a combination of the two in a single pot.
Also, you can place some small stones at the bottom of the container before filling it with soil. These rocks help ensure proper drainage in conjunction with the preexisting holes in the bottom.
It is best to use a medium or large pot because of the natural size of the plant. Even if it does not reach its full height, the plant will still need enough room to spread its roots to gather nutrients.
Lighting
Elephant bushes require a lot of sunlight and warmth. They should be kept in full sun or partial shade. Additionally, too much sun can damage the leaves and their tissue if you are not careful.
Propagation
Like most succulents, elephant bush plants can be propagated. Propagation is a process where new plants are bred by removing a portion of the original plant.
To propagate your elephant bush, you must cut off a healthy section of the original plant and set it aside. The end will get hard with time. With occasional water from a spray bottle, your new plants will grow about a month later and can then be transferred to their pots.
2. Yellow Rainbow Bush (Portulacaria afra ‘Aurea’)
The yellow rainbow bush, also known as Portulacaria afra ‘Aurea,’ is a yellow or light green plant with smaller leaves. It also had a rusty brown or bright red color on its stems. On occasion, it also has pink or lavender flowers that bloom during hotter weather.
Typically, this species of elephant bush grows to be close to 2-3 feet (0.6 to 0.9 meters) tall. Unlike other types, the yellow rainbow bush is stockier and shorter. When kept inside or in your garden, the total height will be shorter at around 1-2 feet (0.3 to 0.6 meters).
This type can also withstand colder weather, though it is not recommended. The yellow rainbow bush can survive in temperatures between 25 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit (-3.9 to -1.1 degrees Celsius). Yet, anything lower will cause irreversible harm to your plant.
Watering
The yellow rainbow bush should be watered regularly every 2 weeks or more to ensure that it receives the proper amount. Because of its shorter size and potential to cluster closer together, extra care must be taken to check if enough of the soil surface has been covered with water.
A squeeze bottle with a narrow nozzle will make it easier, yet you must be careful that the nozzle doesn’t bump into leaves that are close together. This action can lead to bruising or dents along the surface of your yellow rainbow bush’s leaves.
Soil and Pot Conditions
For the best growth, choose dry soil. Cactus soil, sandy soil, or a combination of the two will satisfy the requirements. Additionally, extra rocks or sediments on the bottom will increase drainage.
Keep your Yellow Rainbow bush in a medium pot to allow enough soil and room for roots to spread out. The roots may stick out of the bottom holes if the pot is too small.
Lighting
To provide the best conditions, keep your yellow rainbow bush in the sun or under lighting as much as possible. They prefer full sun to partial shade. Also, place your yellow rainbow bush in indirect light or shorter periods to decrease the chance of sun burns or damage.
Propagation
You can reproduce smaller yellow rainbow bush plants through propagation. Simply pick a young growth to use as your new plant and cut just below the tip. Because the plant is of the shorter variety, it may be hard to get sufficiently sized samples.
3. Cork Bark Elephant Bush (Portulacaria afra ‘Cork Bark’)
Cork bark elephant bushes are a smaller species that grow better indoors than outdoors. They are identified by their circular and flat light green leaves. They also have very thick branch-like stems that resemble small tree trunks.
In some cases, small pink or lavender flowers grow in the tips. However, this is not common and can be an unpredictable occurrence.
On average, the cork bark elephant bush grows only about 3 to 4 feet (0.9 to 1.2 meters) in height. However, they are often cut shorter to make a version of a bonsai tree.
This type of elephant bush is often used in the art of bonsai or cutting thick or stocky plants down to resemble the shapes of small trees. The plants are intentionally shaped or pruned to a carefully maintained height.
Unlike other species, the Cork Bark elephant bush is often kept in round porcelain containers or pots because of the bonsai process. This type allows for regulated water consumption by the elephant bush because the porcelain material does not hold excess water.
Watering
Because of its thicker trunk-like stems, the cork bark elephant bush must be watered at least once a week. They tend to absorb more water. However, this does not mean there is no overwatering risk.
You can water it with a soft layer of water along the surface of the soil using a squeeze bottle with a narrow nozzle. Or, you can provide water by letting the plant soak from the bottom up.
To soak your cork bark elephant bush, follow these steps:
- Fill a small tub or another container with enough water to cover the bottom of it.
- Then place your potted plant for 10 to 15 minutes or until the soil appears very wet. Do not exceed 15 minutes, as this will lead to overwatering.
- After, remove the pot and place it somewhere with good lighting.
- Let the plant be, and it will grow as usual.
Soil and Pot Conditions
The cork bark elephant bush prefers soil like cactus soil or sandy soil. The dry soil is necessary to provide optimal draining.
In terms of choosing a pot, your best choice is a medium pot with enough room for the plant to expand its roots. If you want to try using your cork bark elephant bush for bonsai trimming, you should use a round porcelain pot. However, these pots are also suitable for plants not used for bonsai art.
Lighting
Keep your cork bark elephant bush in full sun or partially shaded conditions. It is best if this plant is kept indoors from harsh light. Yet, it can be kept outside for a short time if desired.
Propagation
The cork bark elephant bush can be propagated to produce new plants. This is performed by cutting pieces of the main plant and allowing them to spawn new roots.
4. Dwarf Elephant Food (Portulacaria afra minima)
The dwarf elephant food plant is a tiny species of elephant bush that gets its name from its size. It has round green leaves that are uniform in color. Additionally, it has narrow pink stems that grow outwards.
This elephant bush only grows to be .5 to 1 foot (0.2 to 0.3 meters) tall. Yet, it tends to grow outward instead of in a carpet-like sheet on the soil. While it is very short naturally, it can be cut even shorter for more precise maintenance.
Watering
A regular watering schedule of once every 2-3 weeks is best for the dwarf elephant food plant. When watering, it is essential to be aware of this short height and outward growing stems because it makes it harder to reach the soil for the watering process.
A squeeze bottle with a nozzle can be used for the water. This will also come in handy for having to go between the thicker lakers of the outward growing parts of the plant.
Soil and Pot Conditions
A medium size pot kept indoors or outdoors is the optimal container for the Dwarf elephant Food plant. However, you can also get a medium pot that hangs from a hook or wire as the plant’s outward growing tendencies allow it to extend over the pot edges.
Lighting
Dwarf elephant food plants should be kept in full sun or partial shade. If you are keeping your plants outdoors, keep them out of direct sunlight, especially if you live where temperatures extend 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32.2 degrees Celsius).
This plant cannot survive long in cold temperatures. To avoid freezing your plant, ensure temperatures do not reach below 30 degrees Fahrenheit (-1.1 degrees Celsius).
Propagation
To propagate a dwarf elephant food plant, you just need to cut a portion of the main plant. However, because of its size, propagation may be harder to perform.
5. Limpopo Elephant Bush (Portulacaria afra ‘Limpopo’)
The Limpopo elephant bush plant is a large type of elephant bush. It has large green leaves that are round or teardrop shaped. Their stems are typically light brown or light green, depending on the plant’s age.
These plants can grow anywhere from 4 to 16 feet (1.2 to 4.9 meters) in the wild. However, due to their contained spaces, they usually grow a little smaller in homes and gardens. Their average height in these environments is only 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.6 meters).
Sometimes, small pink flowers will emerge with time on the tips of the Limpopo elephant bush. If the flowers do appear, they do not last very long.
Watering
Like other species of the elephant bush and other succulents in general, the Limpopo elephant bush is sensitive to water. Watering it once every 2 weeks with a narrow nozzle squeeze bottle is enough to provide the exact amount that the plant needs.
If the plant starts to look as if the leaves are shrinking or drying up, you can increase the watering to be more frequent at once every week until the plant’s health begins to improve significantly.
This species is more sensitive than other types, so it is crucial to know how much or how little water is given at a time. Watering it just a little more than usual can be enough to throw off its whole cycle and make it ill.
Soil and Pot Conditions
The Limpopo elephant bush prefers dry or sandy soil to regular soil. You can also mix cactus soil and sandy soil in equal parts to make a hybrid soil.
A medium pot works the best as it provides enough room for the plant and its roots to spread fully. Smaller pots can cause the plants’ growth to be stunted or not develop fully.
Lighting
To give the best lighting conditions for your Limpopo elephant bush, lace it in full or partial shade whether you keep it indoors or outdoors. This susceptible plant does not adjust well to harsh or direct sunlight that damages the outer leaves.
Propagation
You only need to cut a few small samples from the main plant to propagate your Limpopo elephant bush. Over time, the ends will harden and produce new growths that can then be transferred to their independent pots.
6. Midstripe Rainbow Bush (Portulacaria afra ‘Medio-Picta’)
Known for its white-striped leaves, the midstripe rainbow bush is a common elephant bush type. It is also regarded as the slowest-growing species.
The primary color of the leaves can be either a light shade of green or a dark yellow. The stems resemble branches and are a very bright red or pink color.
The midstripe rainbow bush can reach only 1 to 2 feet (0.3 to 0.6 meters). This makes it a very short plant but not the shortest of all the species.
Watering
For best growth, you should water your midstripe rainbow bush once every 1 to 2 weeks unless the leaves show signs of shriveling or drying out. Using a squeeze bottle with a narrow nozzle is best to reduce the chance that the roots do not soak up enough water.
Soil and Pot Conditions
Dry cactus soil, sandy soil, or a mixture of both provide the best setting for your midstripe rainbow bush. Ensuring that other rocks are in the pot’s bottom can also provide extra draining through the bottom holes.
A medium pot is best despite the small size. This size ensures that the roots will spread evenly throughout and not burst through the bottom.
Lighting
Partial sun and partial shade are the best types of lighting for this species of elephant bush. While it can survive in slightly hotter or colder weather conditions, the plant is susceptible and may not fully adjust.
Propagation
The midstripe rainbow bush must be trimmed more often than other types of elephant bush. When the leaves turn solid white, you must remove them. Additionally, the section the leaves grew on must be trimmed down near the base of the plant to lead to more promising growth.
This plant can be propagated by cutting off plant segments like other elephant bush types. However, it may take an extra month or so to see any changes or growth in the removed pieces because it is slow growing.
7. Mammoth Elephant Bush (Portulacaria afra Macrophylla)
The mammoth elephant bush is one of the largest species of elephant bush. It gets its name from the large round leaves that extend from its stems. The leaves are bowl-shaped and about the same size as a U.S. quarter.
Their stems are usually brown but can sometimes be a rusty red color instead. Because the leaves are so big, only 4 to 5 grow on a stem simultaneously.
They are typically 8 to 12 feet (2.4 to 3.7 meters) tall in the wild. While they do not often grow this tall when kept in individual pots or gardens, they can still reach extensive heights.
Watering
The mammoth elephant bush is a very relevant and durable plant. It can go a long time without water. You can water it once every 2 to 3 weeks, and the plant’s health should stay perfectly fine.
One thing to be cautious of is that since their leaves are large, you will need to move them to let the water effectively seep into the soil’s surface. This process applies whether you use a squeeze bottle or not.
Soil and Pot Conditions
Dry soil is the best soil for mammoth elephant bushes. A combination of cactus soil with sand suits this plant the best.
In terms of pot sizes, a medium pot will work until the plant begins to expand out of it. Then, a large pot will give all the extra room for the roots to spread. You can hang this plant, though it may overgrow the pot or get too heavy very quickly.
Lighting
Mammoth elephant bushes do best when in full sun or partial shade. They need lots of light to grow to their full sizes. However, direct sun can harm the exterior leaves more than good if the plant is left there for extended periods.
Propagation
It is possible to propagate your mammoth elephant bush. You will need to cut in between the leaves as they are spaced out with significant gaps.
8. Lilliput Elephant Bush (Portulacaria afra ‘Lilliput’)
The Lilliput elephant bush is a unique species known for its round and puffy leaves. The leaves are usually light green but can be yellow in some special cases. They grow together in layered clusters that hide their brownish stems from view.
On average, the Liliput elephant bush can grow anywhere between 6 to 8 feet tall (1.8 to 2.4 meters). Their stems tend to extend far outward, making them great hanging plants if you choose.
Watering
Like other types, the Lilliput elephant bush does not require much water. Once every 2 to 3 weeks is enough to keep your plant looking green and healthy. Using a squeeze bottle, you will need to gently move some leaves to access the soil surface.
Additionally, you will need to ensure you are careful and do not cause bruises, scrapes, or other damage to the surfaces as you water. Because the leaves are close together, they may be tightly packed and hard to move.
Soil and Pot Conditions
For optimal growth, keep your Lilliput elephant bush in dry soil that does not get moist quickly. Cactus and sandy soil help keep water absorption under control.
Additionally, rocks or pebbles lined at the bottom can help drain it out more. However, putting extra rocks in the bottom can make the pot heavier, especially if you decide to hang it up.
Medium-sized pots are the best fit for this plant. However, for extra room, you can use a large pt. This will reduce the worry about whether or not the roots will stick out the bottom or expand out of the pot.
Lighting
This species of elephant bush prefers full to partial sun. It also does not mind partial shade. Direct sunlight will cause extensive damage if you do not monitor your plants closely or leave them outside for extended periods.
Propagation
The Liliput elephant bush is unique because, unlike other species, it can be propagated in two ways instead of one. While it can be propagated by cutting off a section of the branch and letting it grow independently into a new plant, it can also be done through layering.
Layering is a propagation tactic where you do not cut off any pieces of the plant. Instead, you allow one branch of the main plant to grow separately while it is still attached.
To propagate your Lilliput elephant bush by layering, follow these steps:
- Choose a young piece of the main plant that extends past the rim of the plant.
- Dig a small hole just a little deeper than the surface layer in a separate pot or the same pot that the main plant is in.
- Once the hole is dug, place the selected plant piece and bury it. Do not cut it off.
- Cover the plant piece with soil. Water as you would any other plant. This process allows the chosen plant pieces to develop roots independent from the main plant.
- After 1 to 2 months, you can cut off the newly formed plant and place it in a new pot.
Final Thoughts
Elephant bush, or Portulacaria afra, is a plant with many different types. Each type of this beautiful succulent has its preferences, care schedule, and features. Yet despite these differences, all these kinds of elephant bush are easy to care for with the right conditions and maintenance.