The kind of lifestyle that is created in an attempt to ultimately help you to create and choose your lifestyle. Portulacaria afra (known as elephant bush, dwarf jade plant, porkbush and spekboom in Afrikaans) is a small-leaved succulent plant found in South Africa.These succulents commonly have a reddish stem and leaves that are green, but also a variegated cultivar is often seen in cultivation. It is also an excellent soil binding plant that prevents soil erosion. And Spekboom trees can grow as tall as 5 metres. Spekboom has a photosynthetic mechanism which allows it to adapt to all weather conditions so it can survive extreme conditions – from drought to frost. Well, the plants act as carbon sponges, absorbing carbon from the air and turning it into plant matter that helps them grow. Indoors or outdoors suit it just fine. It can be planted in a large container on a sunny patio, but it will need to be watered occasionally. Spekboom (Portulacaria afra) is endemic to the Eastern Cape’s Spekboom ‘thicket’ biome. SpekboomCan Live Up to 200 Years Old!This plant propagates easily. Blue Chalk Sticks (Senecio ficoides) Blue Chalk Sticks is another sculptural South African succulent … This makes a spekboom thicket 10 times more effective per hectare at carbon fixing than any tropical rainforest.”. Spekboom makes for a low-maintenance house or garden plant. Prior to the advent of large-scale livestock farming, some areas of the Eastern Cape had Spekboom forests so thick that it was said a grown human could walk across the top as if walking on a carpet.Spekboom propagates very easily, and a broken-off branch can quickly grow roots and create a … Even tough it has no special requirements to grow, compost and fertiliser will encourage quicker growth. This incredible tree uses carbon to make plant tissue and produce oxygen. In order to grow spekboom successfully, the soil must be well-drained. It is High in Basic NutrientsThis plant is edible and high in nutrients, especially Vitamin C, and a perfect addition to a salad. Just break off a piece, remove the bottom leaves and stick it in the ground and it should grow. Spekboom grows slowly, but amends soil quality. Spekboom will happily live and grow for up to 200 years. It is an easy to grow succulent that is heat, drought and fire resistant, and can be grown in full sun or semi-shade. 3. Portulacaria afra – the name might sound like a mouthful, so it might be easier to refer to this plant by another name. We are hypothetically (and physically) landing ourselves in hot water! This Proudly South African Plant is Easy to GrowFirstly, this indigenous evergreen plant is found predominantly in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Spekboom is a great tool to tackle climate change. At the time, it was maybe 6″ tall at the top, with a … Site by Brand Candy. Video of the Day Volume 0% “Spekboom is an amazing plant. They relish the juicy leaves that the tree provides. Spekboom carbon farming is also only suitable in areas where natural spekboom-rich thicket once occurred.” To determine if they qualify, new landowners may need expert advice on the vegetation and soil type of their land, adds Wynand. A variegated variety exists with lighter tones to the leaves. And the growing stands of elephant bush combat global warming. Effectively, Spekboom should be planted en-masse on a global scale to start to reduce carbon dioxide levels. Alternatively, purchase one from your local nursery and wait for it to grow … This miracle plant species can be beneficial in rehabilitating and restoring semi-arid and thicket habitats. It’s almost entirely free of pests and diseases. up-to-date with the latest news and trends, ©2021 Lifestyle Home Garden | From a distance, crassula portulacaria has leaves that look like those on typical North American variegated trees and shrubs. 4:00 pm 04.07.2021 - 5:00 pm 04.09.2021 Cape Town is currently aiming to grow 5000 spekboom to increase the number of trees in the city. Lives For Up To 200 Years. In late winter and spring, this plant flowers bloom in beautiful pink. Growing Elephant Bush Houseplants These succulents need well drained soil and an unglazed pot that will help excess moisture evaporate. A broken branch tossed onto the ground by a grazing elephant will grow roots and create a whole new plant. It truly is a magnificent plant. It’s almost entirely free of pests and diseases. Cuttings are easily rooted in spring though autumn. Edible Wonders: Even tough it has no special requirements to grow, compost and fertiliser will encourage quicker growth. It is also one of the easiest plants to grow because it doesn’t need formal planting. Easy with this versatile chappie. A happy medium is a sunny spot in the garden where it will flourish and be at it’s brightest. The disadvantages of planting spekboom. Using a cutting for garnish that can doubled-up as a swizzle stick. It’s growth pattern depends on the variety of Spekboom chosen – flatter varieties spread quickly and bushier varieties can grow up to 5m tall and will need some trimming occasionally. When we think back to the recent California fires and how rows of Euphorbia tirucalli Sticks on Fire were used as unintentional firebreaks – we really can be appreciative of this unique category of plants! More impressive still is the spekboom’s fantastic growth rate and its drought-resistance, making it an ideal plant for arid areas. It is an industrious little plant with a huge heart. Remember as with all succulents not to over-water. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. To name just a few of its amazing attributes: Easy to grow; Low maintenance It is planted at various lodges to aid in absorbing carbon dioxide from the air, improving the environment in which we live. A few years after he was first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, my Dad gave me a bowl of succulents. Portulacaria afra also known as Spekboom, Elephant’s food, Elephant bush, Dwarf jade plant or Porkbush is a fast growing succulent that belongs to the Purslane family. Amount of the Eastern Cape small crassula with one elephant bush indoors it will.. North American variegated trees and shrubs this prevents it from being washed.! Gain nutrition and moisture as they graze on the reserve of healthy leaves and stick it in well-drained river.! 5000 spekboom to increase the number of lessons have been learned, says.! Benefits we just laid out or spekboom, and need water to grow, compost and will... 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