Portulacaria Afra "Spekboom" Standard 10 Liter

Botanical Name: Portulacaria afra
Common Names: Spekboom, Elephant Bush, Dwarf Jade

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📌 Product Description

Portulacaria afra, widely known as Spekboom, is a hardy, fast-growing indigenous succulent shrub highly valued in South Africa for its exceptional drought tolerance and environmental benefits. It features small, rounded, fleshy green leaves borne on reddish-brown stems, forming a dense, bushy structure.

Spekboom is one of the most versatile water-wise plants available — ideal for hedging, bonsai, slope stabilisation, and large-scale ecological restoration. It is also recognised for its impressive carbon-sequestration ability and importance in habitat rehabilitation.

Reliable, resilient, and easy to grow, Spekboom is a must-have for indigenous and sustainable gardens.

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📏 Size When Fully Grown

Height: 2 – 5 m (can be maintained smaller with pruning)
Spread: 1 – 3 m
Growth Habit: Dense, branching succulent shrub
Growth Rate: Fast

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🌱 Best Growing Conditions

Light: Full sun to semi-shade
Soil: Well-draining soil; tolerates poor and sandy soils
Water:

• Highly drought-tolerant once established
• Moderate watering during establishment
• Very low water requirements thereafter

Feeding: Minimal feeding required

Maintenance:

• Prune to shape or maintain hedge form
• Extremely easy to propagate from cuttings
• Tolerates heavy trimming

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🌦️ Planting & Growing Season (South Africa)

Best Planting Time: Spring and summer (can be planted year-round in frost-free regions)
Active Growing Season: Spring and summer
Flowering Season: Late spring to summer (small pink star-shaped flowers on mature plants)
Climate Suitability: Excellent for most South African regions, especially dry and semi-arid areas
Frost Tolerance: Light frost tolerant; protect young plants in heavy frost regions

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🌼 Additional Benefits

✔ Indigenous South African species
✔ Exceptional drought tolerance
✔ Powerful carbon-sequestering plant
✔ Wildlife-friendly and browse plant
✔ Ideal for soil stabilisation
✔ Extremely easy to propagate

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🌿 Ideal Uses

✔ Water-wise landscaping
✔ Indigenous gardens
✔ Hedging and screening
✔ Bonsai cultivation
✔ Groundcover on slopes
✔ Environmental restoration projects