Plant · GBIF taxon 3084777
Elephant bush
Portulacaria afraAlso known as Spekboom, Porkbush, Elephant's Food, Dwarf Jade Plant
Elephant bush is a resilient succulent shrub native to the arid thickets of eastern South Africa, where it forms dense, woody stands that support major megaherbivores. Its reddish-brown stems support fleshy, teardrop-shaped leaves capable of switching to Crassulacean Acid Metabolism during droughts to preserve moisture. In its native habitat, this plant acts as a vital carbon sink and ecological foundation, holding soil together and offering refuge to small wildlife.
SucculentDrought-TolerantCarbon Sink
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthesis)
Predators
- African Elephant
- Black Rhinoceros
- Domestic Livestock
ThreatsOvergrazing by unmanaged livestock, habitat degradation
HabitatsArid thickets, rocky hillsides, semi-desert scrub
Life span50–100+ years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderCaryophyllales
- FamilyDidiereaceae
- GenusPortulacaria
- SpeciesPortulacaria afra
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Cultivation: Provide bright sunlight and well-draining soil, letting the soil dry out between waterings.
- Propagation: Snap off a healthy stem segment and insert it directly into soil to establish a clone.
- Landscaping: Use as a drought-tolerant hedge or accent plant in frost-free climates.
Major Herbivore (c) dhfischer, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by dhfischer · cc-by
Look-alike (c) Christiaan Viljoen, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Pollinator Andreas Trepte / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
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