Portulacaria afra, also known as the “Elephant Bush”, is a perennial succulent found in South Africa. This succulent is quite hardy, making it great for beginner gardeners. Although unrelated, it looks like the Jade Plant, with it’s similar glossy green leaves and on thick, woody stems.
One of the most common types of Portulacaria Afras is Portulacaria Afra ‘Variegata’. It has the same shape as a normal Elephant Bush, but the leaves are a mix of green and white, giving it a unique look. Their care is the same, and explained below.
Learn more about variegated plants here.
These are tips and tricks specific to Elephant Bush care. For a general guide to taking care of all succulents, click here.
| Name | Portulacaria afra “Elephant Bush” |
| Sunlight | Several hours of bright, indirect sun |
| Water | Once a week in the summer Once every 3 to 4 weeks in the winter |
| Soil | Well-draining, porous soil |
| Temperature | Warm and dry |
| Dormancy | Winter dormant |
| Propagation | Cuttings |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic |
Growth
Portulacaria afra can grow 6 to 15 feet tall in it’s native habitat. Indoors, it may reach a height and width of 3 feet.
Elephant Bush Sunlight:
The Elephant Bush requires several hours of bright, indirect sunlight to thrive. While it can tolerate full sun, excessive direct sunlight can cause the leaves of your Portulacaria to dry up and sunburn. Sunburn appears as brown spots on the leaves and cannot be removed once it has occurred.
West or East facing windows are best for Elephant Bush because they provide enough sun without the light being too harsh. Rotate the plant every few days so each side receives equal sunlight and grows evenly.
If you are keeping your Elephant Bush outside, it is important to slowly acclimate it to brighter light to avoid sunburn. Slowly increase the amount of light it receives each day. Keep it somewhere it can receive bright, filtered light, such as a patio.
Elephant Bush Soil
For proper Elephant Bush care, ensure it is planted in a well-draining soil. They are not too picky with the pH, as long as the soil is well draining. I have had good results mixing this soil with perlite in a 70:30 ratio.
Potting Elephant Bush
As it grows, this houseplant can spread out laterally and sprawl/hang out of it’s container, making it great for hanging baskets.
Plain terracotta pots with drainage holes work well because they allow excess water to drain out and prevent root rot.
Fertilizer
Fertilize in the late winter to early spring with a diluted fertilizer, once a month.
Elephant Bush Watering
The Elephant Bush’s watering needs are similar to that of other succulents. They are acclimated to drought because their thick leaves allow them to store plenty of water.
Learn more about watering succulents here.
In general, check that the top inch of soil is dry before watering. The bottom leaves of your Elephant Bush may become wrinkly and shriveled when it needs a drink.
During the summer months, water your Portulacaria once a week. Let the soil dry completely in between waterings. Only water once the top layer of soil is completely dry because Portulacaria do not like sitting in water for too long.
During winter months, reduce watering to once every three to four weeks to prevent root rot. During this time, Portulacaria is dormant and does not require as much water.
Keep in mind that drier and hotter environments will require more frequent waterings than cooler and more humid ones.
When watering, water the soil at the base of the plant. If water remains on the leaves, it can lead to rot, so wipe it off with a tissue.
If your Portulacaria is dropping it’s leaves easily when bumped, this is a sign of overwatering.
Propagation:
Elephant Bush can easily be propagated from cuttings.
- Take a pair of sharp garden shears and obtain a cutting that is about 3 to 4 inches long and has plenty of leaves.
- Take the leaves off the bottom so you have a clean inch of stem to plant in the soil.
- Leave the stem out for several days, so the end can callous. The open area where the plant was cut requires time to heal before planting.
- After the stem has calloused, fill a small pot with well-draining potting soil and plant your cutting.
- Keep the pot in a warm area that receives bright, indirect sunlight. Keep away from direct sun.
- Wait a week after potting before watering your cutting. Water once a week after that.
- It will take a few weeks for your cutting to root. After 1 to 2 months, you will notice new growth on top.
Elephant Bush is easy to propagate with cuttings, so you can easily share with your friends and family.
Elephant Bush can also be propagated from leaves, however it takes longer and is not as successful. If you see fallen leaves in your pot, leave them in there and maybe you will get lucky!
Temperature:
Native to South Africa, the Elephant Bush thrives in hot and dry climates. It’s optimal temperature is from 65 to 75 °F (18 to 24 °C).
This succulent can even survive freezing temperatures and mild frost as long as it is not for an extended period of time. If you live somewhere cold, bring your Portulacaria indoors for the winter.
Excess humidity can cause root rot, so this succulent should not be placed in naturally humid rooms. A fan is a great way to improve air circulation.
Keep your Elephant Bush away from air conditioning vents and heaters.
Toxicity
Portulacaria afra is non-toxic and safe to grow around pets and humans.
Fun Fact: As it’s name suggests, the Elephant Bush serves as food for elephants in it’s natural habitat of South Africa.
Blooming
Portulacaria afra blooming indoors is uncommon. However if kept outdoors, they may produce small clustered white or pink blooms.
Blooming is encouraged by providing the plant with the appropriate lighting, temperature and water requirements. Generally, they will need to experience a winter period, where they are kept at dry and at a cool temperature around 45 ⁰F (7 ⁰C) for a few months.
Difference between Jade Plant and Elephant Bush
While these two plants look quite similar, they are actually not related at all. In general, the Jade Plant is able to support itself as it grows, while Portulacaria tend to droop and sprawl as their stems grow. If you have a misidentified plant, don’t worry- they both have similar care.
Common Elephant Bush care problems
Mealy bugs on Elephant Bush
Mealy bugs are small, fuzzy, white bugs that like to crawl around in the nooks and crannies of plants.
At the first sign of mealy bugs, immediately quarantine your plant away from the others. Check all of your other plants for signs of the pest. Mealy bugs spread quickly, and other plants may be infected as well. Pay special attention to the nooks and crannies of your plants because they love those areas.
For the plants with signs of infestation, take a q-tip, soak it in rubbing alcohol and dab it at any bugs you see to kill them instantly. Also water the soil with rubbing alcohol to kill any eggs they may have left behind. Watering with alcohol does not harm your plant and removes eggs in the soil. You will have to repeat this every other day for several days because mealy bugs take a while to completely go away.
Why does my Elephant Bush have wrinkled leaves?
Insufficient watering leads to dried up and shriveled leaves. Check that the top layer of soil is dry, then give your Elephant Bush a long drink. Elephant Bush should be watered more often in hotter and drier conditions and less often in the winter.
On the other hand, root rot, from over watering can also lead to wrinkly, yellow leaves.
For more information about this issue, read this article about wrinkled Elephant bush leaves
Furthermore, keep your Elephant Bush away from air conditioning vents and heaters as these can excessively dry out your plant.
Why are my Elephant Bush leaves falling off?
Unfortunately your Elephant Bush dropping leaves may be due to under or over watering, making it slightly tricky to determine the cause.
If you notice dried, shriveled up leaves in dry soil, chances are your Elephant Bush is under watered. Fortunately, this is much easier to fix than over watering. Give your plant a good drink, and it should perk up in a week.
On the other hand, over watering succulents often causes their leaves to swell and drop off the plant. Signs of over watering include:
- Bottom leaves of the plant are turning mushy or translucent yellow
- The leaves fall off easily when the plant is gently bumped
- The stem is turning black and losing it’s shape
This is a common problem for succulents and can be difficult to fix.
Allow the soil to dry out and decrease how often you water your plant. Place it in a sunnier area so it can dry out faster.
If there is a lot of damage in the stem and leaves, you may have to cut away the healthy parts of the plant and focus on growing those.
For a complete guide to fixing root rot, check here.
If the root rot is particularly extensive and the whole stem is mushy, you may have to chose a few healthy-looking leaves from the whole plant to propagate.
Other factors to consider
Sudden changes in light, humidity, and temperature can cause Elephant Bush leaf drop as well. If you have recently moved your houseplant to an area that is a change from it’s previous conditions, that could be the source of your plant’s leaf drop. Move the plant back to it’s old spot or transition it slowly to the new area.
Why are my Elephant Bush’s leaves turning yellow?
Leaves can turn yellow due to several reasons
- Improper nutrients
- Poor draining soil
- Improper watering
If your plant has not been potted in over 2 years, it could be depleted of nutrients. Either repot with a new mix or feed it a diluted fertilizer.
The Elephant Bush hates staying wet for too long, so poor draining soil is a problem. Remove the plant from the soil mix and plant in something more porous. Adding in perlite and sand helps improve draining.
Improper watering is another cause of Elephant Bush leaves turning yellow. Learn more about how to water succulents here.
In summary for Elephant Bush care…
If you are looking for a hardy, tree-like succulent and are a fan of Jade Plants, try adding an Elephant Bush to your garden.
These no-fuss houseplants are easy to propagate and look great sprawling out of hanging baskets or pots. The variegated version especially adds a unique, multicolored look.
Still have more questions about Elephant Bush care? Let me know down below.
Learn more about general succulent care from these articles:
How to Take Care of Succulents
