Portulacaria afra with small rounded leaves on branching stems.

Plant dossier

Elephant Bush

Portulacaria afra

A fast-growing, easy-to-explain branching succulent often used as an accessible shrub-form entry plant.

easy high spring-autumn beginner-friendly
Difficulty easy
Light high
Season spring-autumn
Beginner yes

Fast read

Thrives in bright light with dry-down between waterings and tolerates a wider range of beginner conditions than fussier collector plants.

Name map

Use the alias block below when the same plant appears under multiple seller-facing names or search terms.

Identity and taxonomy

Display name
Elephant Bush
Latin name
Portulacaria afra
Aliases
elephant bush, dwarf jade
Genus
Portulacaria
Family
Didiereaceae
Cultivar
Not set
Plant tags
branching, shrub-form, beginner-friendly
Color tags
green
Shape tags
cluster, large-form
State tags
small-round-leaf, woody

Core care matrix

Difficulty
easy
Beginner friendly
Yes
Light
high
Watering
low
Growth season
spring-autumn
Dormancy
none
Ventilation
medium
Temperature min
8°C
Temperature max
32°C

Commercial extension

Useful as a durable, low-friction catalog anchor for buyers who want structure without high fragility.

beginner-seller-friendlyeasy-batch-listing shipping: low price: low care-guidebeginner-guide

Source traceability

Succulent Catalog pilot editorial synthesis

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