Dwarf Jade Succulent - Portulacaria afra

Portulacaria afra is a highly resilient succulent shrub with thick, tree like brown branches and small smooth grey green fleshy leaves. Its upright, branching habit gives it a sculptural presence, making it ideal for modern architecture, pots, courtyards and rockeries. Extremely drought tolerant, it thrives in harsh conditions, from full sun to shade. Often grown as bonsai due to its miniature tree form, it also performs well as a low-maintenance feature shrub in contemporary Australian landscapes.

Key Features:

• Soil: Well drained soil, thrives in sandy and rocky sites.
• Light: Plant in full sun for best form, tolerates semi shade and indoor bright rooms.
• Watering: Water lightly during establishment, reduce watering once roots develop.
• Fertiliser: Feed sparingly with slow release cactus fertiliser in spring.
• Maintenance: Trim lightly to shape. Ideal for cloud pruning, bonsai or sculptural forms. Use gravel or stone mulch to maintain dryness and prevent rot.
• Flowering: Portulacaria afra can produce flowers, but they are rare in many cultivated gardens.

Because the plant stores water in its stems and leaves, overwatering is the most common mistake. Allow soil to dry between watering to keep the plant healthy.

At Plant Nest, we make it easy to buy plants online with delivery direct to your door. Every plant is hand-selected for quality, carefully packed, and backed by expert advice so you can grow with confidence.