Elephant Bush (Portulacaria afra)

How much light does an Elephant Bush need?

Elephant bush takes full sun when it grows outdoors. Full sun is the preferred outdoor light level, and no other outdoor light level is recorded for the species. The compact form 'Aurea' has new leaves that turn a bright yellow in full sun. Put the plant where it receives that full sun if you grow it outside.

• Light: Full sun¹

How often to water an Elephant Bush

Your elephant bush needs water somewhere in the range from dry to medium. Be careful not to overwater it, since it is susceptible to root rot in consistently moist soil. The soil it grows in should also be very well-drained. The recorded range stops at medium, and wetter conditions are not listed for this plant.

• Water: Dry to medium¹

Best soil for an Elephant Bush

Choose very well-drained soil for elephant bush. Well drained is the only drainage class recorded for the species. Soil that stays consistently moist leaves the plant susceptible to root rot. Root rot is the one disease recorded for it. The moisture range recorded for the plant runs from dry to medium.

• Soil drainage: Well drained¹

Hardiness and temperature

In USDA terms, elephant bush is hardy in zones 9a through 11b. Zone 9a is the coldest zone in that range, and zone 11b is the warmest zone in that same range. The minimum temperature on record for the plant is 39.2 °F, which is 4 °C. The source says to move the plant back indoors when night temperatures drop below 40 °F (4 °C).

• Hardiness: Zones 9a–11b¹
• Minimum temperature: 39.2 °F (4 °C)¹

Fertilizing an Elephant Bush

Container-grown elephant bush needs fertilizer monthly during the growing season. Monthly in the growing season is the only fertilizer frequency recorded for the species. The source gives this advice for plants in containers, and it names no fertilizer type, strength or routine for plants in the ground. Feeding is not recorded for any other part of the year.

• Fertilizer: Monthly in the growing season¹

How to plant an Elephant Bush

Gardeners in zones 9a through 11b can plant elephant bush in the ground. In the ground in mild climates, it can grow 7.9–15.1 ft (2.4–4.6 m) tall. Choose a spot with full sun and very well-drained soil. The plants produce a great many tiny, inconspicuous pink or white flowers in late spring or early summer. The native range is recorded as the region codes CPP, KEN, MOZ, NAT, SWZ and TVL.

• Hardiness: Zones 9a–11b¹

Winter care

When night temperatures drop below 40 °F (4 °C), the source says to bring the plant back inside. Its recorded minimum temperature is 39.2 °F, which is 4 °C. The hardiness range given is zones 9a through 11b, and colder zones are outside that range. Indoors is also where mealybugs can be a problem for this plant.

• Hardiness: Zones 9a–11b¹
• Minimum temperature: 39.2 °F (4 °C)¹

Common problems

Mealybugs are the pest recorded for elephant bush, and they can be a problem, especially indoors. The source describes the plant as having few pests overall. Root rot is the disease recorded for it. The plant is susceptible to root rot in consistently moist soil, so avoid overwatering it.

• Common pests: mealybugs¹
• Common diseases: root rot¹

Questions and answers

Does elephant bush need full sun?

Outdoors, the preferred light level for elephant bush is full sun. No other outdoor light level is recorded for it. It is hardy in zones 9a through 11b, so those are the zones where it can grow outside.

How much should I water elephant bush?

Its water needs run from dry to medium. Be careful not to overwater, because it is susceptible to root rot in consistently moist soil. It also needs very well-drained soil.

What color are the flowers of elephant bush?

The flowers are pink or white. They are tiny and inconspicuous, and the plants produce a great many of them in late spring or early summer. Fertilizing monthly during the growing season is the feeding advice recorded for container plants.