Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Elephant's food
Elephant's food is an evergreen succulent shrub with small, round, bright green leaves on reddish-brown stems. It is low water once rooted, has no thorns and drops very little litter, which makes it a common pick around pools, patios and entryways. It usually stays about 3 to 5 feet in yards and can be pruned to almost any size, from a low hedge to a potted accent. In its native South Africa, elephants eat it, which is how it got its name.
Best for: pool edges, patio and entry pots, low hedges and wall planters, anywhere you want a thornless, low-litter shrub you can prune to almost any size.
It has no thorns and drops very little litter, so it is a common poolside plant in the Valley. It also grows well in large pots on the pool deck.
It does well in containers at entryways, on patios and in raised wall planters. In pots, water about once a week in summer.
It can be kept to almost any size with pruning, from a low hedge to a rounded shrub, and it needs only light pruning.
Leaves can be damaged near 30°F. Overwatering makes it drop its leaves and can rot the roots. In full shade it grows spindly and weak.
- Grouped planting1 ft apart
- Full-size plants2 ft apart
Water a new plant to get it rooted. Once rooted, water deeply every 1 to 2 weeks in the hottest months and about monthly in winter. Pots need water about weekly in summer.
It drops its leaves quickly when kept too wet, and soggy soil can rot the roots. Let the soil dry between waterings.
Leaves can be damaged near 30°F. On freeze nights, cover it with frost cloth or a sheet down to the ground, move pots under cover, and keep the soil dry.
It needs only light pruning. Trim it whenever you want to hold a size or hedge shape.
Check for scale and mealybugs, and keep the soil from staying wet to prevent root rot. Rabbits and javelina browse it, so protect new plantings.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does elephant's food get?
It usually stays about 3 to 5 feet tall and wide in yards, but it can reach 8 to 12 feet. Prune it to keep it the size you want.
Is elephant's food good around a pool?
Yes. It has no thorns and drops very little litter, so it is a good fit near a pool. It grows well in the ground or in large pots near the pool.
How often should I water elephant's food in Phoenix?
In summer, water deeply every 1 to 2 weeks in the ground and about weekly in pots. In winter, water about once a month. Let the soil dry between waterings.
Why is my elephant's food dropping leaves?
Overwatering is the usual cause. It drops its leaves quickly when kept too wet, and soggy soil can rot the roots. Cut back on water and make sure the soil drains.
Does it need shade in the Valley?
It grows in full sun to light shade. Give young plants some afternoon shade; established plants take full sun. Avoid full shade, where it grows spindly and weak.
Can elephant's food survive frost?
Leaves can be damaged near 30°F, and established plants usually regrow after dips to about 25°F. Cover it with frost cloth on freeze nights and keep the soil dry in winter.
How do I prune elephant's food?
It needs only light pruning, so trim it to keep a hedge or shrub the size you want. It can be kept to almost any size.
Does elephant's food flower?
It can make small pink flowers, but it rarely blooms in Valley yards.
What pests bother elephant's food?
Watch for scale and mealybugs, and root rot in soil that stays wet. Rabbits and javelina also browse it, so check new plantings for damage.
When is the best time to plant it?
Plant it in March or April, after frost danger, so it roots in before summer. September and October also work. Avoid planting in the summer heat.
Why is it called elephant's food?
In its native South Africa, elephants, goats and tortoises eat it. The small round leaves are edible and taste tart.
Elephant's food for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Elephant's food (Portulacaria afra) is a thornless succulent shrub from South Africa with small round leaves on reddish stems. It is low water and low litter and is used around pools, in pots and as a low hedge. Here is what to expect in the Valley, from size and sun to water, frost, pruning, planting months and soil.
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How big does elephant's food get in Arizona?
It usually stays about 3 to 5 feet tall and wide in Valley yards, and it can reach 8 to 12 feet. Pruning keeps it at almost any size.
Is elephant's food a good pool plant?
Yes. It has no thorns and drops very little litter, which makes it a good pool plant. It grows well in the ground or in large pots near the pool.
How often to water elephant's food in Phoenix
Water deeply every 1 to 2 weeks in the hottest months and about monthly in winter. Pots need water about weekly in summer. Do not overwater, or it drops its leaves.
Does elephant's food need full sun in Phoenix?
It grows in full sun to light shade. Young plants need some afternoon shade; established plants take full sun. Full shade makes it spindly.
Is elephant's food frost hardy?
Leaves can be damaged near 30°F, and established plants usually regrow after dips to about 25°F. Cover it on freeze nights and keep the soil dry in winter.
When to plant elephant's food in the Valley
Plant it in March or April, after frost danger, or in September and October. Summer planting is hardest on young plants.
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