Elephant's Food
Portulacaria afra, Portulacaceae Family ( Portulacaceae ), Elephant's Food. Also called: Elephant Bush, Small Leaf Jade, Porkbush, Spekboom.
A small tree or succulent shrub. Used for bonsai.
The plants can be grown in full sun in Phoenix or Tucson.. It is an ideal xeriscape plant.
It also can be grown in semi-shade in dry areas or even in well-watered flowerbeds. It tolerates a moderate degree of frost, especially when mature.
Height: Up to 12 feet tall. Most are about 3 - 4 feet.
Flowers: Its flowers are pink, small, star shaped; sepals 2; petals 5, pale pink to purplish; stamens 5 to 7. They rarely bloom.
Blooming Time: Phoenix Arizona, Mid March - April.
Leaves: The leaves simple, opposite, almost circular, about 7/16 inch in diameter, or obovate, up to 1 1/4 inch in diameter, fleshy, pale grey, pale greyblue-green to dark green;
each pair of leaves are at right angles to the next along the reddish stems; the apex is rounded with a short, abrupt point; the base is tapering; margin entire; petiole very short or almost absent.
Found: Native of South Africa.
Elevation: 0 - 2,400 Feet. In Arizona.
Habitat: It needs good drainage and aeration.
Miscellaneous: Maintenance: Low. Photos Taken; Glendale, March 6, 2006.
