Portulacaria afra – Elephant Bush

Portulacaria afra, commonly known as Elephant Bush, is a versatile evergreen succulent valued for its dense branching habit, small glossy leaves, and exceptional drought tolerance. The bright green foliage is carried on attractive reddish-brown stems, creating a soft yet structured appearance that suits both formal and informal landscape designs. Its compact growth habit and ability to respond well to pruning make it a popular choice for hedging, screening, topiary, and bonsai applications. It performs best in full sun to partial shade and free-draining soils, adapting exceptionally well to coastal gardens, dry climates, and low-maintenance landscapes. Once established, Elephant Bush develops outstanding drought tolerance and requires minimal ongoing care. It also responds well to shaping and regular trimming, allowing it to be maintained as anything from a small feature plant to a dense hedge. They look excellent when used as low hedges, borders, succulent gardens, bonsai specimens, courtyards, container plantings, and waterwise landscapes where reliable evergreen structure is desired. Its resilience, versatility, and attractive foliage make it one of the most widely used succulents for contemporary landscape applications.