Elephant's Food

Portulacaria Afra

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Overview

Portulacaria afra, commonly known as Elephant's Food, is a drought-tolerant succulent that features small, rounded, jade green leaves on reddish-brown stems. It can reach up to 8-15 feet in height and spread 4-6 feet. This evergreen is excellent for adding texture to landscapes and thrives in USDA zones 10-11. Prune for shape and control; it serves well in rock gardens or as a low-maintenance container plant.

Sun Full, Half, ShadeWater LowZones 9–11Climate Arid, Subtropical

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — commonly known as Elephant's Food

Culture

Sun: Full, Half, Shade
Water: Low
USDA zones: 9–11

Shape & size

Classification

Family: Portulacaceae
Climate: Arid, Subtropical

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Photos (101)

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — succulent with lavender blooms; overwatering can lead to root rot, image 74

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — Pruning can help maintain its shape and encourage denser growth; its manageable size and ease of maintenance, image 71

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — green touch to any garden space; commonly known as Elephant's Food, image 72

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — Prune for shape and control; it serves well in rock gardens or as a low-maintenance container plant; is a, image 80

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — is a versatile and succulent shrub native to South Africa; pruning can help maintain its shape and encourage, image 82

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — commonly known as Elephant's Food or Spekboom; making it an excellent choice for xeriscaping or areas with, image 81

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — This evergreen is excellent for adding texture to landscapes and thrives in USDA zones 10-11; succulent for, image 79

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — It can reach up to 8-15 feet in height and spread 4-6 feet; additionally, it's an excellent carbon sequester, image 78

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — jade green leaves on reddish-brown stems; indirect sunlight but can tolerate partial shade, image 77

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — commonly known as Elephant's Food; this evergreen is excellent for adding texture to landscapes and thrives, image 76

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — fleshy leaves have a glossy jade green hue that contrasts strikingly with its reddish-brown stems; textured, image 84

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — though it often stays smaller when cultivated in containers; it can reach up to 8-15 feet in height and, image 83

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — indirect sunlight but can tolerate partial shade; succulent with lavender blooms, image 86

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — textured appearance.<br><br>Elephant's Food thrives in USDA hardiness zones 9 to 11 and prefers bright, image 85

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — The plant is adaptable to a variety of soil types, provided they are well-draining; commonly known as, image 87

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — this succulent's water requirements are minimal, image 88

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — making it an excellent choice for xeriscaping or areas with water restrictions; allowing for easy relocation, image 89

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — Its manageable size and ease of maintenance also render it suitable for container gardening; prune for shape, image 94

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — allowing for easy relocation or adjustment within the landscape; the plant is adaptable to a variety of soil, image 95

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — Additionally, it's an excellent carbon sequester, making it environmentally beneficial; lavender flowers in, image 93

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — Portulacaria afra can serve as an attractive groundcover or an eye-catching specimen in rock gardens; so it's, image 92

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — so it's critical to allow the soil to dry out between watering sessions.<br><br>In the landscape; fleshy, image 91

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — Overwatering can lead to root rot; jade green leaves on reddish-brown stems, image 90

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — Pruning can help maintain its shape and encourage denser growth; its manageable size and ease of maintenance, image 96

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