Variegated elephant food shrub with small cream-edged green leaves on reddish stems in a gravel bed

Elephant Food Variegated

Portulacaria afra 'Variegata'
Categories:
Cacti & Succulents  ·  
Other Succulents
Light
Morning sun / afternoon shade
Water
Low water once established; water deeply, then let soil dry between waterings. Containers need more frequent checks during summer. Reduce watering sharply in winter.
Size
2-4 ft tall × 2-4 ft wide
Habit
Mounded – spreading shrub
Toxicity
Non-toxic
Description
A shrubby succulent with small, rounded green leaves edged in creamy white, sometimes flushed pink, on reddish stems.
Bloom Time
Late spring to summer (rarely flowers in cultivation)
Deciduous / Evergreen
Evergreen
Special Features
Colorful Foliage, Drought Tolerant
Growth Rate
Slow to moderate
Growth Habit
Mounded – spreading shrub
Mature Size
2-4 ft tall × 2-4 ft wide
Flower Color
Pink
Foliage Color
Variegated green and cream with reddish stems
Landscape Use
Border / Bed, Cactus / Succulent Garden, Container / Patio, Foundation Planting, Hedge / Screen
Garden Style
Container / Patio, Desert / Xeriscape, Hedge / Formal
Soil
Sandy / Rocky, Well-Drained
Companion Plants
Elephant's food, Golden barrel cactus, Medicinal aloe, Tiger aloe
Non-toxic
Non-toxic
Care Instructions

Light: Morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal in Phoenix; protect from intense summer sun and reflected heat.

Water: Low water once established; water deeply, then let soil dry between waterings. Containers need more frequent checks during summer. Reduce watering sharply in winter.

Soil: Very well-drained sandy or gravelly soil; use cactus/succulent mix in containers with drainage holes.

Mature size: Typically 3–6 feet tall and wide in protected landscapes; usually smaller in containers.

Bloom: Occasional small flower clusters in late spring or summer on established plants; flowering is uncommon in cultivation.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen; may drop leaves during cold, drought, or other stress.

Growth rate: Slow to moderate; slower than the solid-green form.