Portulacaria, Elephant Bush, Elephant Food, Purslane Tree, Spekboom 'Prostrate Form'

Central Phoenix -- Dwarf elephant food (Portulacaria afra minima) is a great succulent groundcover for many locations. It grows low to t...Read Morehe ground and has smaller leaves than regular elephant food. Propagates from cuttings is easy and the plant spreads at a moderate pace. It also makes a great hanging pot plant, creating draperies of light green leaves on red stems. I grow this plant in a variety of conditions from full afternoon sun to moderate shade. The plants in full afternoon sun with every other day summer water are fine, but a plant in full afternoon sun and only once-a-month water suffers some sunburn. The main drawback of dwarf elephant food is it's freeze sensitivity. Mine suffers damage at just below freezing if not covered and even if covered may have freeze damage in the mid to low 20s if those temperatures persist for several nights in a row.