1 / 2

Portulacaria spp.

spekbooms

Didiereaceae Southern Africa

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterVery Low · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Portulacaria spp. is a small genus of succulent shrubs in the family Didiereaceae, native to southern Africa and represented in cultivation almost entirely by the spekboom or elephant bush, P. afra. Plants form much-branched succulent shrubs or small trees 6-15 ft (1.8-4.5 m) tall in habitat, with smooth, reddish-brown to purple stems and small, rounded, fleshy green leaves 0.2-0.8 in (5-20 mm) long arranged in opposite pairs. Small star-shaped pink flowers appear in clusters in warm, dry conditions, though plants in cultivation flower only sparingly. The genus is highly drought-tolerant and can switch between two modes of photosynthesis, fixing carbon efficiently in dry conditions, which has drawn interest for use in thicket restoration and carbon storage in South Africa. The leaves are edible, with a tart, lemony taste, and are browsed by elephants, tortoises, and other animals. The genus is frost-tender and is grown outdoors in warm, dry climates and widely as a container, bonsai, and house plant elsewhere. A variegated form with cream-edged leaves is commonly grown.

Native Range

The genus is native to southern Africa, where P. afra grows in the arid thicket and succulent scrub of South Africa Eastern Cape and neighbouring regions. It forms a major part of the spekboom thicket vegetation grazed by elephants and other wildlife.

Suggested Uses

Portulacaria spp. is grown as a drought-tolerant landscape and hedge shrub in warm, dry climates, as a groundcover and slope stabiliser, and very widely as a container, bonsai, and house plant. Plants are spaced 2-4 ft (0.6-1.2 m) apart as a low hedge. Trailing growth from the variegated form is used in hanging displays.

How to Identify

Identify Portulacaria spp. by its smooth, reddish, semi-woody stems and small, rounded, fleshy, paired green leaves like miniature jade-plant foliage. Plants are succulent, much-branched shrubs of hot, dry places. The small paired round leaves and red stems separate Portulacaria spp. from the larger-leaved jade plant, Crassula ovata, with which it is often confused.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 15'

Width/Spread2' - 10'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Spring Summer

Portulacaria spp. flowers in late spring and summer in hot, dry conditions, carrying small clusters of pale pink star-shaped flowers. Flowering is sparse or absent on many cultivated plants, especially indoors. The display is brief where it occurs.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green, cream-variegated in one form

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Very Low

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow Portulacaria spp. in full sun to bright light in a free-draining, gritty cactus or succulent mix with a pH of 6.0-7.5. The genus stores water in its leaves and stems and tolerates drought, so water only when the soil has dried and reduce watering sharply in winter. Overwatering and cold, wet soil cause stem and root rot. The genus is frost-tender and is kept above about 40 F (4 C), grown indoors or under glass where winters are cold. Plants take full sun and heat once acclimatised and can scorch if moved abruptly into strong sun. Pieces broken or cut from the stems root readily as cuttings.

Pruning

Portulacaria spp. tolerates regular pruning and pinching, which makes it a favourite subject for bonsai and topiary. Stems are cut back at any time in the warm season to shape the plant and encourage branching. Removed cuttings root easily in dry, gritty soil.

Pruning Schedule

summer