- 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): Brown, Green, Red |
| 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: |
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 Know 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 Know As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 1 year old
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
2.5 Quart
Also Know As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 year old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
#1 Pot
Also Know As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 year old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
#2 Pot
Also Know As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2-3 year old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
#3 Pot
Also Know As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 3-4 year 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 Addict Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
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
Plant Shipping
Time of Order:
Summer Shipping
- If there is extreme heat we’ll delay shipping.
- We’ll have to review what areas the plants are traveling through along with your location
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an email with tracking information. Depending on the above criteria we’ll ship your plant(s) towards beginning of the following week from your order. We put together this helpful guide of what to do when you receive your plants in the mail.
It is important to know that all of our plants are clearly labeled for which growing zones the plant can survive in. The plants are thoroughly trialed and tested in every growing zone before we state the plant can grow in a zone. Again, our #1 priority is to ship the plants to you healthy and ready to thrive in your location. So we will do everything in our power to do so.
