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Elephant Bush Portulacaria afra — "Spekboom" / "Dwarf Jade"
Elephant Bush (Portulacaria afra) is the succulent that does everything: glossy, coin-shaped leaves on wine-red stems, a natural talent for bonsai, hanging-basket grace, hedge-like toughness — and in its native South Africa, elephants really do browse it by the mouthful. Growers love it because it's nearly indestructible and roots from any stem scrap; pet owners love it because it's the safe jade lookalike; and it's famously one of the most carbon-hungry plants you can put in the ground.
| Common names | Elephant Bush, Spekboom, Dwarf Jade, Porkbush |
| Botanical name | Portulacaria afra |
| Family | Didiereaceae |
| Origin | South Africa |
| Mature size | 6–12 ft in habitat; easily kept 1–3 ft in pots |
| Light | Full sun to bright light |
| Water | Low — soak, then let dry; slightly more forgiving than jade |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 9–11 (protect below ~30°F) |
| Propagation | Stem cuttings — extremely easy |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats & dogs (the pet-safe jade alternative) |
🌱 Buy Live Elephant Bush Cuttings
Fresh-cut Portulacaria afra stems from our Los Angeles garden — sturdy, red-stemmed, and ready to root.
Shop Cuttings on Etsy →How to identify Portulacaria afra
Next to a true jade (Crassula ovata), Elephant Bush has much smaller leaves — fingernail-sized coins rather than fat ovals — set in neat opposite pairs along distinctly red, wiry stems. The whole plant is finer-textured and faster-growing, arching and trailing where jade stands stiff. Variegated forms carry cream-edged leaves. The fine twigs and tiny leaves are exactly why bonsai growers prize it.
Elephant Bush care
Light. Full sun to bright light. Good light keeps the internodes short and the red stem color strong; it also handles bright indoor windows better than most succulents.
Water. Soak-and-dry, though it's more forgiving of an extra drink than jade — in active summer growth it appreciates regular water, then much less in winter.
Soil. Gritty and fast-draining; unfussy beyond that.
Temperature. Zones 9–11; protect below about 30°F. It rebounds fast from light damage.
Pruning & bonsai. It takes hard pruning with total grace — pinch constantly for a dense shrub, wire and clip for bonsai, or let it trail from baskets. Every trimming is a cutting.
How to propagate Elephant Bush from cuttings
If you can stick a stem in soil, you can propagate Elephant Bush.
1. Take 3–6 inch stem cuttings. Strip the lower leaf pairs.
2. Callus 2–3 days.
3. Plant an inch deep in gritty, barely-moist soil.
4. Bright shade, light water. Roots take in 2–3 weeks in warmth, and new leaf pairs follow quickly.
New to cuttings? Follow our step-by-step 21-Day Rooting Guide, and match your delivery with the Succulent ID Chart.
Skip the wait — start with rooted-ready cuttings
We ship fresh Elephant Bush cuttings that callus in transit and pot up the day they arrive.
Shop Cuttings on Etsy →Common problems
Is Elephant Bush the same as jade? They're lookalikes, not relatives. The giveaway is leaf size and the red wiry stems — and the practical difference matters: Elephant Bush is the pet-safe one.
Why is it dropping leaves? It drops leaves under stress from either direction: severe drought or waterlogged roots. Fix the watering and it re-clothes itself faster than almost any succulent.
Is it safe for cats and dogs? Yes — Portulacaria afra is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs, making it the go-to jade alternative for pet homes.
Can it be a bonsai? A classic beginner bonsai: small leaves, quick recovery, thick trunk with age, and total tolerance of clipping. Start with a cutting and shape as it grows.
Can you eat Spekboom? In South Africa the sour, vitamin-rich leaves show up in traditional dishes. That said, treat ornamental plants as ornamental unless you know exactly how they've been grown.
Related pages
All Types of Succulents → · Gollum Jade · Mini Pine Tree · Succulent ID Chart