Elephant Bush (Portulacaria afra 'variegata')

Choose a bright position close to a window. Bright indirect light is a good starting point, with some gentle morning sunshine if introduced gradually.

The cream areas are more sensitive to scorching than the leaves of the plain green Elephant Bush. Strong afternoon sun may need softening with a sheer curtain.

If the stems start stretching towards the window, try a brighter position. This one belongs on the brighter side of the Jungle.

Let the compost dry through most or all of the pot before watering again. Check below the surface and notice how much lighter the pot becomes as it dries.

When it is ready, water thoroughly and allow the excess to drain away. Empty the saucer or decorative pot afterwards.

During warm, bright weather it may need drinks closer together. In winter, the same pot can take much longer to dry.

You will get to know its rhythm as it settles into your home.

Variegated Elephant Bush sits towards the relaxed end of our Tap Water Diva scale.

Ordinary UK tap water is normally suitable. If your water is very hard, occasional rainwater use can help reduce mineral buildup in the compost.

How well the pot drains matters much more than offering a special water menu.

Normal household humidity is fine. There is no need for regular misting, a humidifier or a pebble tray.

Give it some airflow and space between neighbouring plants, particularly where the stems become dense.

It is quite happy joining the Jungle without joining the tropical humidity club.

Normal household temperatures suit it well. Around 15 to 25°C is a comfortable growing range.

Keep it away from frost, cold draughts and leaves pressing against chilly window glass. Aim to keep it above 10°C, especially when the compost is damp.

A bright windowsill is lovely. A cold breeze through the window is not for this succulent.

Variegated Elephant Bush grows well in cactus and succulent compost that drains freely and dries between drinks.

If your mix holds onto moisture for a long time, horticultural grit or pumice can help keep it more open.

A pot with drainage holes makes watering easier to manage. Found a decorative pot you love without holes? Keep the plant in its nursery pot inside it, then empty any water left at the bottom after watering.

Good roots, favourite pot. Everybody gets what they need.

Feed during spring and summer while the plant is producing new growth.

Use a cactus and succulent fertiliser at the strength and frequency stated on the label. If fresh compost already contains feed, allow for that before adding more.

Pause feeding when growth slows in autumn and winter. A quiet spell needs less input, leaving you a little more time for the rest of the Jungle.

Repot when the roots have filled the pot or the compost has become difficult to water evenly. It does not need a bigger home every spring.

Choose a pot just a little larger than the current one, with drainage holes and fresh succulent compost. Support the root ball while working, as the branches can snap if used as handles.

A stable pot is helpful as the plant becomes wider or taller. Give it a few days to settle before watering if the roots have been disturbed.

Leave it to grow freely or give it an occasional trim to encourage more branches.

During active growth, use clean scissors or secateurs to cut just above a pair of leaves. Keep plenty of healthy foliage and allow time for fresh shoots to develop before shaping it again.

If a completely green branch appears, you can remove it to help preserve the variegated appearance.

Any healthy cuttings are worth keeping. A little Jungle reshuffle can come with spare plants.

A soft brush works well between the small leaves and branching stems. For an individual dusty leaf, use a slightly damp cloth or our Microfibre Houseplant Dusting Gloves and support it gently.

The leaves can detach if caught or pulled, so there is no need to work through every one. A light dust now and then is plenty.

Skip the leaf shine.

Healthy stem cuttings are a lovely way to make more of this one.

Take a short cutting with several pairs of leaves during spring or summer. Remove the lowest leaves and leave the cut end somewhere dry for a few days so it can seal.

Place it in a small pot of freely draining succulent compost. Keep it warm and bright, out of strong direct sunshine, and water sparingly while roots develop.

New growth is a good sign that it is settling in. Once rooted, gradually move into the same care routine as the parent plant.

One for your windowsill, one for somebody else’s Jungle.

Spring

Longer days usually bring fresh leaves and branching growth. Start feeding once it is actively growing, and check whether the compost is drying more quickly. Spring is a good time for repotting or taking cuttings.

Summer

This is usually the busiest part of its growing year. Water thoroughly when the compost has dried, and watch how the pale leaves respond to stronger sunshine. Gentle morning sun can work well once introduced gradually.

Autumn

Growth usually slows as the days shorten. Reduce feeding and expect longer gaps between drinks. If it has spent summer outside, bring it back indoors before nights turn chilly.

Winter

Keep it somewhere bright, away from cold glass and draughts. Water much less often, checking that the compost has dried first. Little or no new growth is perfectly normal. The Jungle can have a quieter season too.

Leaves dropping

Check for a recent move, cold draughts, low light or compost that is staying wet. A few lost leaves can happen while it settles in. Continued leaf drop deserves a closer look at its growing conditions.

Wrinkled or thinning leaves

If the compost is dry, the plant may be ready for a drink. If it is wet, roots may be struggling to take up water. Check the roots before watering again.

Soft stems or a mushy base

This can indicate rot. Remove the plant from its pot, inspect the roots and cut away rotten material with clean tools. Healthy stem tips may still be suitable for propagation.

Long stems with widely spaced leaves

The plant may need more light. Move it gradually towards a brighter position. Once it is growing well, light pruning can encourage a fuller shape.

Pale brown or crispy patches

Sudden exposure to strong sunshine can scorch the leaves. Give it some protection from harsh afternoon light. Damaged patches will remain, but healthy new growth can replace affected leaves over time.

Very little growth

Slow growth is normal through winter. During spring and summer, check that it has enough light and is not spending long periods either completely dry or continually wet.

Mealybugs and scale insects can sometimes settle on Elephant Bush. Look around leaf joints and along the stems for white fluffy patches, small raised bumps or sticky residue.

If you spot something unfamiliar, move the plant away from its neighbours while you check it. A clear close up photo can help us identify what is visiting.

Use a treatment suitable for the pest and for succulents, following its instructions. Test it on a small area first, as some sprays can mark the leaves.

Variegated Elephant Bush is generally considered non toxic to people, cats and dogs. A useful option when your Jungle includes a few curious companions.

It is still best grown for looking at rather than nibbling. Eating plant material can upset a pet’s stomach, and our plants are sold for ornamental use.

Despite sometimes being called Dwarf Jade, it is a different plant from Crassula ovata, which has different safety advice.