SKU: 50838995066
portulacaria afra best soil

portulacaria afra best soil Buy Elephant's Food Phoenix, AZ | Portulacaria afra

Sale price$20.92 Regular price$23.24
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $5.81 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Sep 11 - Sep 16

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

portulacaria afra best soil Buy Elephant's Food Phoenix, AZ | Portulacaria afraThe Best Drought Tolerant Privacy Shrub for Phoenix & Scottsdale Elephant's Food (Portulacaria afra) is Phoenix's #1 choice for a fast growing, ultra low water privacy shrub that delivers lush, year round structure with virtually no maintenance. This South African native reaches 815 feet tall with dense, succulent foliage on eye catching reddish brown stems creating a thick, living wall that thrives in the most punishing Arizona heat. Whether you're

The Best Drought-Tolerant Privacy Shrub for Phoenix & Scottsdale

Elephant's Food (Portulacaria afra) is Phoenix's #1 choice for a fast-growing, ultra-low-water privacy shrub that delivers lush, year-round structure with virtually no maintenance. This South African native reaches 8–15 feet tall with dense, succulent foliage on eye-catching reddish-brown stems — creating a thick, living wall that thrives in the most punishing Arizona heat. Whether you're building a privacy screen in Scottsdale, a poolside backdrop in Chandler, or a sculptural accent in Mesa or Gilbert — Elephant's Food delivers outstanding results on minimal water and care.

Elephant's Food Plant Details

Attribute Detail
Scientific Name Portulacaria afra
Common Names Elephant's Food, Elephant Bush, Spekboom, Porkbush
Mature Height 8–15 feet
Mature Width 8–15 feet
Growth Rate Fast — 1–2 feet per year in Phoenix conditions
Sun Full sun to partial shade. Thrives with reflected heat from walls and hardscape.
Water Very low once established. One of Arizona's most drought-tolerant shrubs.
USDA Zones 9–11 (Phoenix is Zone 9b–10a)
Soil Well-draining. Highly adaptable to Arizona caliche soils.
Foliage Evergreen — small, round succulent leaves; reddish-brown stems year-round
Bloom Color Pink (small star-shaped flowers in spring)
Native Region South Africa (proven performer in desert climates worldwide)

Elephant's Food Uses in Phoenix Landscapes

Privacy Hedge and Screening

Elephant's Food is one of the fastest ways to build a dense privacy screen in the Phoenix Valley. With its thick, succulent foliage and upright growth habit, it forms an impenetrable green wall that blocks sightlines from neighboring homes, streets, and pools. Plant 4–5 feet apart for a fast hedge, or 6–8 feet apart for a looser screen. Density guide: 20 ft fence — 5 plants / 40 ft fence — 10 plants. Pair with Texas Sage or Desert Spoon for a layered desert look that's both beautiful and functional.

Poolside Planting

Elephant's Food is one of the best plants for pool-adjacent landscaping in Scottsdale, Phoenix, and Tempe. Its succulent leaves don't drop in ways that clog filters, it handles reflected heat and water splashing without complaint, and its root system is non-invasive. The reddish stems and green foliage create a lush, tropical look that makes pool areas feel like resort-style retreats. It pairs beautifully with Ruellia or Bird of Paradise for a bold, colorful poolside planting.

Sculptural Accent and Modern Desert Design

Few plants offer the sculptural quality of a mature Elephant's Food. The twisted reddish branches and dense round leaves create striking architectural interest whether planted as a single specimen, used as a backdrop, or trained into a multi-trunk tree form. In modern desert landscapes across Chandler, Peoria, and Glendale, Elephant's Food is increasingly used as a high-impact focal point surrounded by decomposed granite or black gravel. For a bolder statement, pair it with a giant agave or sculptural cactus.

Wildlife-Friendly and Eco-Landscape

Elephant's Food is a proven wildlife magnet in Phoenix yards. Hummingbirds, native bees, and butterflies flock to the small pink spring flowers, and birds use the dense canopy for nesting and shelter. It's also one of the most carbon-sequestering plants on the planet — Spekboom forests in South Africa are celebrated for their ability to capture CO₂ at rates rivaling forests. If you're building a pollinator garden in Gilbert or Mesa, Elephant's Food belongs on your list.

Best Time to Plant Elephant's Food in Phoenix

Fall (October–November) is the ideal planting window. Warm soil temperatures encourage rapid root development, while cooler air temperatures reduce transplant stress. A fall-planted Elephant's Food gets 6–8 months of root establishment before its first Phoenix summer, setting it up to thrive for decades. Spring (February–April) is the second-best window. Avoid summer planting if possible — if you must plant in summer, provide afternoon shade for the first few weeks and water more frequently until the plant is established.

How to Plant Elephant's Food

  1. Dig wide, not deep — excavate a hole 2–3 times the width of the root ball and the same depth. Wide holes encourage lateral root spread.
  2. Check for caliche — break through any hardpan caliche layer to ensure water can drain freely. Poor drainage is the #1 killer of Elephant's Food in Arizona.
  3. Backfill with native soil — Portulacaria afra thrives in lean soil. A light 20% organic amendment is fine, but avoid heavy compost or peat.
  4. Spacing — 4–5 feet apart for a dense privacy hedge; 6–8 feet apart for a looser screen; 8–10 feet apart for individual specimens.
  5. Water basin — build a 3–4 inch raised ring of soil around the outer edge of the root zone to direct irrigation water to the roots during establishment.
  6. Mulch — apply 2–3 inches of bark mulch or gravel around the base to retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds. Keep mulch 2–3 inches away from the trunk.

Watering Elephant's Food in Phoenix

First Year Watering Schedule

Consistent watering during the first year is critical to successful establishment, even for a drought-tolerant plant like Elephant's Food:

  • Weeks 1–2: Water every 1–2 days, deep and slow (20–30 minutes per session)
  • Month 1–2: Reduce to every 3–4 days as roots begin to spread
  • Month 3–6: Every 7–10 days (increase to every 5–7 days during peak summer heat above 110°F)
  • After Year 1: Every 10–14 days in summer; every 3–4 weeks in winter. Established plants handle long dry stretches with ease.

Drip Irrigation

Place drip emitters 18–24 inches from the trunk and use 1–2 GPH emitters per plant. Run for 30–45 minutes per session to ensure deep penetration. Once established, Elephant's Food requires very little supplemental irrigation in Phoenix and can often survive on rainfall alone in non-peak months — one of the most water-efficient large shrubs available in the Valley.

How fast does Elephant's Food grow in Phoenix?
In Phoenix's warm climate and full sun, Elephant's Food typically grows 1–2 feet per year. With regular water during the first two years, some plants can grow even faster, reaching 6–8 feet in just 3–4 years.

Is Elephant's Food truly drought tolerant once established?
Yes — once established (typically after 12–18 months), Portulacaria afra is one of the most drought-tolerant large shrubs available for Phoenix landscapes. Its succulent leaves store water, allowing it to withstand extended dry periods. It may drop some leaves during extreme drought but will rebound quickly once watered.

What's the difference between Elephant's Food and Elephant Bush?
They're the same plant. Portulacaria afra goes by many common names — Elephant's Food, Elephant Bush, Spekboom, and Porkbush are all the same species. At Three Timbers, we also carry a Variegated Elephant's Food with cream and green leaves, which is a slightly slower-growing variety with the same tough characteristics.

Can Elephant's Food handle Phoenix's reflected heat?
Absolutely. Portulacaria afra is native to the harsh, rocky hillsides of South Africa and was built for intense sun and radiant heat. It thrives planted against stucco walls, along south-facing fences, and in areas that would stress most other plants. It's one of the few large shrubs that can handle Phoenix's worst west-facing exposures.

Does Elephant's Food work near pools?
Yes — it's one of the best pool-adjacent plants in the Phoenix area. Its succulent leaves don't create significant litter, its roots are non-invasive, and it handles water splash and humidity without issues. It's a popular choice for creating resort-style poolscapes in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley.

You May Also Like

Variegated Elephant's Food — The same tough, water-wise species in a striking cream-and-green variegated form, perfect for a brighter, more decorative look.

Dwarf Elephant's Food — A compact, slower-growing variety that tops out around 4–5 feet, ideal for borders, containers, and smaller spaces.

Texas Sage — A native desert shrub with silvery foliage and purple blooms that pairs beautifully with Elephant's Food in privacy hedges and mixed borders.

Desert Spoon (Dasylirion) — A bold, architectural accent plant that complements the round, soft foliage of Elephant's Food with dramatic spiky structure.

Ruellia (Mexican Petunia) — A low-growing, prolific bloomer that pairs well at the feet of Elephant's Food hedges for a colorful, layered effect.

How Many Elephant's Food Do I Need?

For a fast privacy screen, space plants 4 to 5 feet on center. For a looser informal screen or where you want each plant to show its sculptural form, use 6 to 8 feet.

Screen run length Dense hedge (4 ft) Loose screen (6 ft)
20 ft 5 plants 4 plants
40 ft 10 plants 7 plants
60 ft 15 plants 10 plants

As a single specimen or multi-trunk feature, give it 8 to 10 feet of clearance so the twisted reddish branches can spread.

Elephant's Food Season-by-Season in Phoenix

  • Spring (Feb–Apr): Strong growth flush and small pink star flowers that draw bees and hummingbirds. Best second planting window after fall.
  • Summer (May–Sep): Peak growth in extreme and reflected heat, even on west-facing walls. Very low water once established. Monsoon humidity poses no problem for these waxy succulent leaves.
  • Fall (Oct–Nov): Prime planting season. Growth continues in the warm soil, giving roots months to establish before winter.
  • Winter (Dec–Jan): Evergreen and steady, but frost-sensitive. Tips and leaves can burn below about 28 to 30°F. In low desert cold snaps, cover young plants or expect cosmetic tip damage that flushes out again in spring.

At a Glance

✔ Evergreen   ✔ Drought-Tolerant   ✔ Heat-Loving (Reflected-Heat Tolerant)   ✔ Pool-Friendly (Low-Litter)   ✔ Pollinator-Friendly   ✔ Hummingbird-Friendly   ✔ Low-Maintenance   ✔ Edible

Plant It With

  • Variegated Elephant's Food: the same tough species in cream and green for a brighter accent in the same bed.
  • Dwarf Elephant's Food: a low, spreading form that layers neatly at the feet of the tall hedge.
  • Texas Sage: silver foliage and purple blooms for color contrast along a privacy screen.
  • Desert Spoon: spiky architectural form that plays off the soft round succulent leaves.

Is Elephant's Food Right for Your Yard?

It thrives in full sun and brutal reflected heat, drains-happy caliche, and needs almost no water once established, making it one of the best fast privacy shrubs in the low desert. The one caveat is frost: it is tender below about 28 to 30°F, so in cold pockets plan to cover young plants on hard frost nights or accept some tip burn that regrows in spring. Not the best fit for a spot that stays wet or poorly drained, since soggy roots will rot a succulent like this.

Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 50838995066

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell portulacaria afra best soil

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.1 ★★★★★
Based on 30 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
L
Verified Purchase
Laura Langdon
Houston, US
★★★★★ 5
got it
Format: Paperback
gift
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2021
V
Verified Purchase
Vivienne
Omaha, US
★★★★★ 5
Good quality
Format: Paperback
The book has useful information for 167 pages and the cost is fair. It explains agile practice.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2026
J
Verified Purchase
Jimmy Wotten Jr
Bozeman, US
★★★★★ 5
Short and effective read
Format: Kindle
As the title states, it is short and effective. No fluff, just the information needed to gain a comprehensive understanding of agile and its adaptation to project management operations.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2026
M
Verified Purchase
Michael D. Wells II
Bozeman, US
★★★★★ 5
Essential Resource for Agile Practitioners and Exam Prep
Format: Paperback
The Agile Practice Guide by PMI is an indispensable resource for anyone looking to understand and implement agile methodologies. As someone preparing for the CAPM exam (or working in project management), I found this guide incredibly clear and concise. It effectively breaks down complex agile concepts into digestible information, making it easy to grasp the core principles. It's not just theoretical; it provides practical insights that are directly applicable to real-world projects. A must-have for both certification candidates and active project managers.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2025
M
Verified Purchase
Michael Henry
New York, US
★★★★★ 4
As always, I gave due diligence to this product review
Format: Kindle
I am back once again. As always, I gave due diligence to my reviews. To those of you who found my ratings of multiple PMP publications helpful, you will want to read on. See collective ratings under “Michael Henry” https://www.amazon.com/Project-Management-Professional-Certification-Exam/dp/1492310549/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1CXATM61H9GX&dchild=1&keywords=sohel+akhter%2C+exam+prep+book%2C+6th+ed&qid=1606711795&sprefix=sohel%2Caps%2C230&sr=8-3 That said, all my Agile book reviews are Verified Purchases. Now let’s get down to business shall we. This time around I decided to rate multiple Agile Guides using the same criteria listed on my PMP Guide Evaluations. Obviously, it was necessary to revise/tailor the criteria to meet the unique requirements for Agile-based project management versus the Traditional Waterfall approach. In other words, my ratings were based on how well a given Agile publication satisfies requirements as defined by PMI, AgileAlliance.org and applicable industry standards. As for why I chose to evaluate Agile-based guides is simple. It is my understanding that PMI will be instituting new guidelines regarding their PMP certification requirements. Part of the new requirement will include testing for proficiency in the application of Agile Methodologies (50% of PMP Exams?). More importantly, I happen to know (I have many contacts in major industries) major players such as Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman, Apple, Boeing, Raytheon, and various pharmaceutical companies are all looking to migrate their systems over to an agile-based project model. It has come to my attention that executive management teams have been chartered by the CEO’s of these companies, with making the transition to the “Agile Way” going forward. Assuming my assertion is true, it is in your best interest to start preparing now if you expect to stay current given the paradigm shift slowly but surely coming our way. Change is hard but it is necessary! After poring over 11 comparable guides, here is what I came up with: Agile Rating Criteria: A) Cost. B) Dual Purpose Feature (DP). Answer depends on whether Guide offers Guidance on Agile project selection/management *AND* Agile PMI-ACP compliant test questions that cover all chapters. C) Level of Comprehensive test (where applicable) and content coverage. D) How consistent chapter focus is aligned with percentage of test questions. E) Multiple methods of presenting the same material to increase comprehension through redundancy. F) How well diagrams, tables, graphs, charts, and presentation material were utilized to provide a contextual understanding of various Agile methodologies. G) Coverage of test taking strategies for deciphering test questions. H) How well test questions answers are explained at the end of each chapter. I) Using Real-life case studies to “drive home” complex and/or complicated constructs (look it up if you don’t know the difference between the two). J) Online test bank availability. GUIDES I PURCHASED AND REVIEWED: 1) Author Jack Lead: “Agile Project Management: How to master Scrum, Kanban and all Agile tools to optimize the organization, Performance, Quality and Results. Includes Kaizen guide to grow step by step and achieve goals. (4 Stars). 2) Author Jack Lead: “Project Management: This book includes Lean Guide + Agile Project Management. Practical guide for Managing Projects, Productivity, Profits of Enterprises or Startups with Lean, Scrum, Agile.”(4 stars). 3) Author Jeffrey Ries: “Agile Project Management: The Complete Step-by-Step Beginner’s Guide to Agile Project Management & Software development: Lean Guides for Scrum, Kanban , Sprint, DSDM, XP & Crystal, Book 1.”(4 Stars) 4) Author Brian Will: “AGILE ADOPTION AND TRANSFORMATION, PRINCIPLES, CHALLENGES, AND PITFALLS.” (4 stars). 5) Author Peter Measey: “AGILE FOUNDATIONS, Principles, practices and frameworks.” (4 Stars 6) Author Sam Ryan: “Agile Project Management: 2 Books in 1: Beginner’s Guide & Methodology. The Definitive Guide to Master Scrum, Kanban, XP, Crystal, FDD, DSDM. (4 Stars ) 7) Author Joseph Phillips: “ALL-IN-ONE PMI-ACP Agile Certified Practitioner, Exam Guide. (dual purpose) (5 stars) 8) Author Hans Wendel van Hespen: “Agile methods: Accurate match! Which agile methodoloy is most appropriate for your IT-Project?” (3 ½ stars) 9) Author Sohel Akhter: “Agile Project Management, Aligned with Agile Practice Guide, First edition, PMI and Agile Alliance.” (dual purpose) (5 stars). 10) Author Konnor Cluster: “AGILE PROJECT MANAGEMENT, Learn How to Manage a Project with Agile methods, Scrum, Kanban, and Extreme Programming.”(4 ½ Stars) 11) Author PMI: “Agile Practice Guide.” (4 ½ Stars) After careful review of the above Agile publications, My top 3 picks are as follows: 1st place: Author Sohel Akhter: “Agile Project Management, Aligned with Agile Practice Guide, First edition, PMI and Agile Alliance.”(dual purpose) (5 stars). 2nd place: Author Joseph Phillips: “ALL-IN-ONE PMI-ACP Agile Certified Practitioner, Exam Guide. (dual purpose) (5 stars) 3rd place: Author Konnor Cluster: “AGILE PROJECT MANAGEMENT, Learn How to Manage a Project with Agile methods, Scrum, Kanban, and Extreme Programming.”(4 ½ Stars) *AND* Author PMI: “Agile Practice Guide.” (4 ½ Stars) Honorable mention: All 4 Star ratings ***Special Note: I chose not to include publications targeted for Beginners (don’t want to be accused of comparing apples to oranges). For the record, I will be posting these evaluations for 1st 2nd 3rd place and “honorable mention” reviews only. For those of you wondering why I chose to evaluate 11 Agile Guides. The answer is simple, rating these guides not only enhances my understanding of the various Agile based project management methodologies, it also allows me to continuously improve my knowledge base relative to the current advances being made in the field of project management, across a wide array of industry types. It’s all about staying informed lest you want to get left behind. In closing, I hope you all find my effort to provide guidance, when selecting an Agile Guide Publication, useful!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2020

recommand products