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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 9–11Type SucculentClimate Arid, Subtropical

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

Culture

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

Shape & size

Classification

Type: Succulent
Family: Portulacaceae
Climate: Arid, Subtropical

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Photos (121)

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

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

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 55

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) — jade green leaves on reddish-brown stems; indirect sunlight but can tolerate partial shade

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

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

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) — lavender flowers in the garden; though it often stays smaller when cultivated in containers, image 73

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — Its manageable size and ease of maintenance also render it suitable for container gardening; prune for shape, image 69

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

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

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — jade green leaves on reddish-brown stems; indirect sunlight but can tolerate partial shade, image 52

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — allowing for easy relocation or adjustment within the landscape

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

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — this succulent's water requirements are minimal, image 63

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

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — fleshy leaves have a glossy jade green hue that contrasts strikingly with its reddish-brown stems; textured, image 59

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — Its manageable size and ease of maintenance also render it suitable for container gardening

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — succulent with lavender blooms; overwatering can lead to root rot, image 99

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

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria Afra) — green touch to any garden space; commonly known as Elephant's Food, image 97

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) — is a versatile and succulent shrub native to South Africa; pruning can help maintain its shape and encourage, image 57

Photographs by 9 contributors

Frank Vincentz, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Prahlad balaji, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Dr. Alexey Yakovlev, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 · source
SAplants, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 us · source
Salicyna, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
J.M.Garg, CC BY 3.0 · source

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