Origin
South America
Light
Dappled shade
Watering
Twice a week
Care
Expert
Flowering
Foliage
Indoor
Portulacaria Afra
With its small fleshy bright-green leaves on reddish stems, the Elephant Bush is a shrubby succulent ideal for bonsai and bright interiors.
Care Profile
A guide to ensuring your botanical companion thrives.
Origin
South Africa
Light
Full sun
Watering
Rarely
Maintenance
Easy
The elephant bush of South Africa
Native to South Africa, the Portulacaria, or elephant bush, stores water in its fleshy leaves and stems, easily withstanding drought.
Dense-growing and easy to shape, it becomes a superb bonsai piece and a forgiving indoor succulent, making it ideal for beginners.
"The Portulacaria offers the look of a miniature tree with the ease of a succulent."
01
Styling Tip 01
Bright Light
Give it the brightest spot: good light keeps its foliage dense and compact.
02
Styling Tip 02
Infrequent Watering
Let the soil dry out completely between waterings; like any succulent, it fears excess water.
03
Styling Tip 03
Prune to Shape
Prune regularly to encourage dense branching and give it a handsome shrubby form.
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Origin
Southeast Asia
Light
Low to bright
Watering
Weekly
Care
Easy
Flowering
Foliage