How to Grow and Care for Elephant bush

Elephant bush, also known as Spekboom, Dwarf jade plant, Porkbush, Rainbow bush, Miniature jade, Small leaf jade

Elephant bush is a succulent that thrives in environments with plenty of light and minimal water. A special care point is to avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot, making sure the soil is well-drained and dries out between waterings. Additionally, elephant bush can be sensitive to cold temperatures, so it's best kept in warm conditions, preferably above freezing. Their resilience and low water requirement contribute to an overall care difficulty level that is regarded as easy.

Watering schedule: Every 3 weeks

Sunlight Requirements: Partial sun

In This Article

Planting and Growing Elephant bush

Toughness	Medium
Care Level	Low
Care Difficulty	Easy
Lifespan	Perennial
Watering Schedule	Every 3 weeks
Sunlight Requirements	Partial sun
Soil pH	6-7
Planting Time	All year round
Hardiness Zones	10-12

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Varieties of Elephant bush

Elephant bush 'Variegata'

The elephant bush 'Variegata' is a stubby, perennial shrub with reddish-brown stems and fleshy white leaves. It is named so because elephants love to eat them. This plant thrives in warmer climates and does well in potting mixes ideal for cacti and other succulents. Although it can grow to a height of 6 m, it is pruned to 3 m for easy maintenance.

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More General Info About Elephant bush

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Elephant bush is an upright, succulent shrub reaching heights of 8-12 feet (2.4-3.7 meters). Its reddish-brown stems support emerald green leaves, which are roughly 0.5 inches long. This plant may display showy, tiny pale lavender flowers near the tips of its branches in the summer. Elephant bush can be cultivated in sunlit to shaded areas and is highly drought-tolerant, thriving with minimal to no supplemental watering. It shows a degree of cold hardiness, enduring brief dips to 25°F (-4°C).