Plate No. 24

Elephant Bush

Portulacaria afra

"Browse of the great herds"

Native to

Rocky hillsides of South Africa's Eastern Cape

Botanical illustration of Elephant Bush
Portulacaria afra — drawn from life
History

A brief account

A staple browse of South African elephants — a single mature plant can support an adult bull for a day. Carried by Dutch settlers into European glasshouses in the 18th century, and prized today for its dense small leaves that respond beautifully to bonsai training.

How to care for

Place Elephant Bush according to its light needs: Bright direct light for at least four hours daily. For watering, let soil dry fully between waterings. For the potting medium, use standard succulent mix with added grit. Good drainage is essential: let surplus water escape freely and never leave the roots standing in a wet saucer. 10–32°C. Frost-tender. Check the compost before watering instead of following a rigid calendar, since light, temperature, pot size and season all affect how quickly it dries. During slower growth, reduce watering and wait longer between drinks.

How to propagate

Stem cuttings root with ease in dry, gritty soil. Propagation is most reliable during the plant's active growing season, when warmth and good light help new roots establish. Start with clean tools and healthy material, and keep the new plant in conditions appropriate for the parent. Where a cutting or division creates a wound, allow the surface to dry before planting unless the method calls for immediate rooting in water or moist mix. Once roots form and fresh growth appears, gradually move the young Elephant Bush into its normal watering routine; excess moisture is especially risky while the root system is still small.
Cultivation

Quick tips for care & planting

Light
Bright direct light for at least four hours daily.
Water
Let soil dry fully between waterings.
Soil
Standard succulent mix with added grit.
Temperature
10–32°C. Frost-tender.
Propagation
Stem cuttings root with ease in dry, gritty soil.