Elephant bush

Elephant bush: how do you recognise it?

Growth habit

Branching, evergreen succulent (shrub): about 1 m tall and 80 cm wide indoors, up to several metres in the wild.

Leaves

Small, round to oval, 1–2 cm, fleshy and bright green, in opposite pairs.

Stems

Reddish-brown to purple-brown, slender and branching; they become woody over the years, so you can shape a little tree.

Flower

Tiny pink stars in clusters at the tips of the shoots. It rarely flowers indoors.

Roots

Shallow and fibrous: a wide, fairly shallow pot is enough.

Plants: March–April · Pruning: April–July

Why grow it?

• Very sparing: it tolerates drought and forgives a forgotten watering.
• Easy to prune and shape, even into a bonsai.
• Easy to propagate from cuttings.
• Evergreen, with attractive reddish-brown stems and fresh green leaves.
• Suitable for a sunny windowsill and, in summer, a sunny terrace.

Elephant bush: where does it grow best?

• As much light and sun as possible: a south-, east- or west-facing window. In summer it can go outside in a sunny, sheltered spot. Get it used to the sun gradually; in shade the shoots become long and sparse.
• Very free-draining, lean compost: cactus compost with a third of sand or pumice; neutral to slightly acid.
• Warm: 18–30 °C in summer and 8–15 °C in winter. Never below 5 °C.
• Dry air is no problem. Preferably use a terracotta pot with drainage holes, which lets water evaporate.

Light

Sunny

Potting soil

Cactus compost

Acidity

Neutral

Watering

Sparingly

Size

1 m tall, 0.8 m wide

Temperature

Minimum 5 °C

Goes well with

• Jade plant (Crassula): A related succulent with the same sun, the same compost and the same sparing watering.
• Aloe: A sun-loving succulent with a very different, pointed shape.
• Echeveria: A low rosette that contrasts nicely with the fine branches.
• Mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria): Just as sparing and tough in a bright, dry corner.

Elephant bush: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–April.

1. Repot in March–April, every 2–3 years or when the pot becomes too small.
2. Choose a wide, fairly shallow pot with drainage holes, preferably terracotta.
3. Use cactus or succulent compost with a third of sand or pumice and put a layer of clay pebbles at the bottom.
4. Carefully take the plant out of the pot, shake off the old compost, set it at the same depth as before and firm gently.
5. Water only after a week and then sparingly; damaged roots then heal without rotting.

Care

Water

Water only when the compost is completely dry and then let it drain right through: in summer about every 1–2 weeks, in winter hardly at all (a little every 4–6 weeks). Wrinkled leaves point to drought, falling yellow leaves to too much water.

Feeding

From May to August once a month, half a dose of cactus or houseplant feed. Not in winter.

Light

The more sun, the more compact and sturdy the growth and the redder the stems. In too little light it stretches and drops leaves.

Outdoors in summer

From mid-May to September it can stand on a sunny, sheltered terrace. Get it used to the sun first to avoid scorched leaves and move it under cover in prolonged rain.

Shaping

Pinch out young tips and prune regularly for a compact, branching shape or a bonsai.

Tip: Give it plenty of sun and water only when the compost is completely dry, just as for a jade plant. It takes pruning well, even into a bonsai, and the cuttings root easily.

Elephant bush: when to prune it?

Pruning months: April–July.

When: From April to July inclusive, in the growing season: it recovers fastest in warmth and plenty of light.

How:

• Cut stems back to just above a few leaves or a node with clean, sharp scissors: it usually regrows with two new shoots.
• Pinch out young tips for a compact, dense shape.
• Remove dead or floppy stems and crossing branches at the base.
• For a little tree or bonsai, clear the trunk and keep the crown in shape.
• Use the cut-off twigs as cuttings.

Caution: Do not prune in winter: the plant hardly grows then and the cut heals slowly.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Stem cuttings

In April–August: cut a piece of 8–10 cm, remove the lowest leaves, let the cut dry for 1–3 days and set the cutting 2–3 cm deep in dry, sandy cactus compost. Water sparingly only after a week; roots after 3–6 weeks.

Elephant bush: how does it get through the winter?

• Not hardy: the minimum temperature is 5 °C. It overwinters indoors.
• Keep it bright and cool (8–15 °C), for example in an unheated but bright room or conservatory, and hardly water it.
• In a warm, dark room it drops a lot of leaves and stretches: then give it as much light as possible.
• Bring plants that stood outside in summer indoors before nights fall below 10 °C and do not feed from September to April inclusive.

Diseases and pests

• Leaf drop: Too much water, too dark, cold or a sudden change of spot. Let the compost dry out and move it somewhere brighter and fixed.
• Wrinkled leaves: Too dry. Give it a thorough watering and then water regularly again, but sparingly.
• Rotting stem: A soft, black stem caused by too much water or cold. Cut the rotten part away to healthy tissue, let the plant dry out and use healthy twigs as cuttings.
• Mealybugs: White fluffy patches between the leaves. Wipe them off with a cotton bud dipped in a little alcohol or soapy water and repeat weekly.

Through the year

• January: Rest: bright and cool (8–15 °C), hardly any water.
• February: Rest. Still hardly any water.
• March: More light. Repot if needed. Slowly start watering a little again.
• April: Repot and prune. Take cuttings.
• May: Start feeding. From mid-May get it used to sun outdoors.
• June: Growth: water as soon as the compost is dry. Pruning or cuttings still possible.
• July: Growth. Pruning or cuttings still possible.
• August: Last feed.
• September: Water less. Stop feeding.
• October: Bring indoors before nights fall below 10 °C.
• November: Rest: bright and cool, hardly any water.
• December: Rest. Keep it bright and cool.

Did you know?

• It can switch between ordinary photosynthesis and the thrifty CAM photosynthesis: in drought it takes up carbon dioxide mainly at night, so it loses less water.
• In South Africa elephants and other animals eat its branches, hence the name elephant bush. It is also used to restore damaged, dry thicket.
• The leaves are edible and have a fresh, sour taste; they are traditionally used in South Africa.