Elephant food Medio-picta with pinkish-red stems and cream-centred green leaves in a terracotta pot

Elephant Food – Medio-picta

Portulacaria afra 'Medio-picta'
Categories:
Cacti & Succulents  ·  
Other Succulents
Light
Morning sun / afternoon shade
Water
Low water once established; water thoroughly, then let soil dry between waterings. Container plants need closer monitoring during extreme heat. Water sparingly in winter.
Size
3-6 ft tall × 3-5 ft wide
Habit
Upright shrub – succulent
Toxicity
Non-toxic
Description
A slow-growing elephant food cultivar with small, rounded succulent leaves featuring creamy-white centers and green margins on pinkish-red stems.
Bloom Time
Spring to summer (rarely blooms in cultivation)
Deciduous / Evergreen
Evergreen
Special Features
Colorful Foliage, Drought Tolerant
Growth Rate
Slow to moderate
Growth Habit
Upright shrub – succulent
Mature Size
3-6 ft tall × 3-5 ft wide
Flower Color
Pink
Foliage Color
Green and cream variegated
Landscape Use
Border / Bed, Cactus / Succulent Garden, Container / Patio
Garden Style
Container / Patio, Desert / Xeriscape
Soil
Amended / Rich, Sandy / Rocky, Well-Drained
Companion Plants
Dwarf aloes, Gasteria, Haworthia, Well-drained soil
Non-toxic
Non-toxic
Care Instructions

Light: Bright filtered light or morning sun with afternoon shade in Phoenix; protect from intense western sun and reflected heat.

Water: Low water once established; water thoroughly, then let soil dry between waterings. Container plants need closer monitoring during extreme heat. Water sparingly in winter.

Soil: Very well-drained, gritty soil; use cactus mix amended with pumice or perlite in containers. Avoid heavy clay and standing water.

Mature size: Typically 2–4 feet tall and wide over time; often smaller in containers or with pruning.

Bloom: May bloom in summer on mature plants, but flowering is uncommon in cultivation.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen; may drop leaves under cold, drought, or watering stress.

Growth rate: Slow; slower than the solid-green species.