Elephant's Food
Portulacaria afra
A dense, shrubby South African succulent with tiny round leaves that makes an excellent informal hedge or security barrier.
Frost sensitive, hardy to about 30°F, USDA 9-11; a tender low-desert succulent shrub.
AMWUA Notes
Low-water, easily pruned succulent shrub that makes a water-thrifty hedge.
Care Guide
Water every 2-3 weeks in summer and monthly or less in winter; drought tolerant and rot-prone if overwatered.
Prune freely to shape as a hedge or bonsai-like form; cuttings root readily and it tolerates hard cutbacks.
Light spring feeding optional; it thrives in lean soil.
Largely pest-free; watch for occasional mealybugs.
Frost-tender below 30°F—protect in freezes; evergreen and dense the rest of the year.
Soil, Feeding & Propagation
Fast-draining gritty mineral soil or decomposed granite; low organic matter
Needs sharp, fast-draining soil.
Low feeder.
Stem cuttings (root readily)
4-5 ft
Shallow, non-invasive roots; soft, spineless and pool-safe
Placement Tips
- •Use as an informal hedge, security screen or container plant.
- •Soft, spineless and pool-safe.
- •Give it 5 ft of room.
- •Plant in fast-draining soil; full sun keeps it dense.
Features
Best Uses
Companion Plants
Quick Stats
Design Styles
Include in Your Project
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Use this care guide to maintain your Elephant's Food. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.
Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.