- Interesting Reddish Stems
- Light Preference/Tolerated (Bright Direct Light, Bright Indirect Light)
- Below Average Watering Needs
- Mature Height 1-4 Feet
- Pet Safe
Join the succulent craze with this cool little elephant bush! True to its name, elephant bush is a favorite food of elephants in South Africa. You can grow it outdoors if you live in a warm climate that occasionally dips to no lower than 30 degrees Fahrenheit. If you live in a colder climate, you can grow elephant bush as an easy-care houseplant.
This drought-tolerant jade-plant look-alike has unusual reddish-brown stems that contrast beautifully with the glossy, rounded, variegated, three-fourth-inch fleshy leaves. It is a slow grower, but as the stems mature, they thicken so the plant takes on an old appearance even when young. Elephant bush has a somewhat sprawling/cascading habit, making it well suited to growing in a hanging basket. When grown in the ground, it can slowly attain a height of several feet, and its evergreen nature makes it useful as a screen or hedge.
Elephant Bush Care
Hold the watering can! Like most succulents, elephant bush thrives on neglect. Just plant it in full sun in sandy soil so it dries quickly and the roots don’t rot. If you are growing it in a pot, be sure the container has a drainage hole at the bottom so the water drains out. If you have a saucer below the pot, it’s critical to empty the saucer after watering so the plant does not stand in water because it absolutely hates wet feet. Use a commercial cactus mix to pot up the plant, or make your own by combining half potting soil with half sand or vermiculite.
Elephant Bush Spacing
In the ground or in a pot, elephant bush grows slowly so it won’t overtake whatever space you give it. In the ground, it slowly reaches a few feet tall and wide but can be kept smaller by pruning the tips. If you want the plant to attain full size, leave a space of two feet around it, but beware that it is very slow growing; you might want to fill in the space with other small plants as it matures, then remove them as things become crowded. A grouping of elephant bushes planted in the ground can be nestled as close as a foot apart, so they appear as one massed plant. The size of a container-grown elephant bush can be controlled by pinching the longest stems and using a small pot. If it becomes pot-bound, simply remove it from the pot and put it in a bigger pot, or vertically slice off part of the plant and roots; the slice can be potted up and enjoyed as an additional houseplant.
Elephant Bush Succulent Information
| Light Exposure: Bright Direct Light, Bright Indirect Light |
| Care Requirements: Easy |
| Watering Requirements: Below Average - Let the soil dry completely, then, water deeply. |
| Pet Friendly: Yes |
| Kid Friendly: Yes |
| Air Purifier: Moderate |
| Habit: Upright |
| Growth Rate: Slow |
| Mature Height: 1-4 feet |
| Mature Spread: 1-3 feet |
| Flowering: Yes |
| Flower Color(s): Pink, White |
| Flower Shade/Description: Pink or White |
| Fragrant: |
| Foliage Type: Variegated |
| Foliage Color(s): Green |
| Foliage Description: Variegated Green/Cream with Reddish-Brown Stems |
| Temperature: Above 30 °F (Above -1 ) |
| Humidity: 75% Or Above |
| Common Name: Elephant Bush Succulent |
| Other Name(s): Rainbow Bush |
| Scientific Name: Portulacaria afra 'Variegata' |
| Plant Type: |
- SKU:
- PORVAP-HP
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
4.5" Pot
Also Known As:
4.5" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.5"H x 3.75"W
Volume:
1.42 quarts
Quart Pot
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
2.5 Quart
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
#1 Pot
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
#2 Pot
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
#3 Pot
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
For more detailed information, please click here.
Plant Addicts Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts always guarantees your plant(s) will arrive happy & healthy. However, plant(s) are being shipped through the mail & sometimes accidents happen. If the plant is dead, has dried out roots or the incorrect item was shipped, just notify Plant Addicts within 3 days upon delivery. We may ask for pictures but will try to make it as easy as possible for you. Please note, plant(s) with damaged branches or wilted leaves will not qualify for this guarantee. Plants are very resilient and will rebound quickly when cared for correctly.
For more information on how to care for your new plants, please click on our guide below.
Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
We encourage all plant lovers to purchase the Plant Addicts Warranty, whether you're a new gardener or an expert. There are many variables outside of anyone's control that can cause a plant to die. Hungry animals, drought, poor soil conditions, over watering, diseases & pests are all good examples of what can cause plants to die. The Plant Addicts Warranty is a 1 year warranty protecting you from all of the unknowns and will replace your plant if something were to happen to it.
The warranty is purchased on a per plant basis and must be purchased at the same time as the plant(s). We will cover 100% of the price of the plant, but the warranty does not cover shipping costs. SImply let us know if your plant has died within 1 year of receiving it and we will get you a new one shipped out as soon as possible (depending on the time of the year and availability). We may ask for photos for documentation purposes, but we try to make the process as easy as possible.
For more information, please click on our page below.
Plant Shipping
Below are some factors we consider when determining when to ship the plants depending on the timing of the order.
Winter to Early Spring
We ship only when it's warm enough to plant in your growing zone.
Sometimes plants aren't completely ready to sell and ship in early spring. We will wait until the plants are ready before shipping so you don't get a subpar product.
For Southern plants we will be able to ship much earlier than plants coming from our northern nursery.
Summer
If there is extreme heat we may delay shipping for a week or several weeks.
We review what areas the plants are traveling through as well as your location.
Fall into Winter
We’ll ship plants out all the way up to the end of the fall planting season!
Winter
Get your order in early to reserve your plants for Spring planting!
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an automated email with tracking information.
Click here for more detailed shipping information.
Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations