succulent plant elephant bush Buy Elephant's Food Phoenix, AZ | Portulacaria afra
SKU: 63072584800
succulent plant elephant bush

succulent plant elephant bush Buy Elephant's Food Phoenix, AZ | Portulacaria afra

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Description

succulent plant elephant bush 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.

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SKU: 63072584800

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4.6 ★★★★★
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A
Verified Purchase
Amazon Customer
Alexandria, US
★★★★★ 5
Worth every penny—my beagle is obsessed
Size: Medium, Style: Cheddar Cheese, Size: Medium, Style: Cheddar Cheese
No dog toy is indestructible if you have a hound or a pit. I happen to have a combination of both. This toy is the best $12 you could possibly spend for a dog that likes to “kill” their toys. The only reason I’m buying more is because I keep losing them. My dog is a rescue. She’s half beagle, a quarter boxer, and a quarter pit bull. She’s a tiny fire-cracker and I lover her to pieces. And she loves tennis balls to pieces. Literally. She adores tennis balls, squeaky toys, and food. She will absolutely try to surgically extract the squeaker from any toy she gets because she has a high prey-drive. These balls last usually at least a week before she manages to dislodge the squeaker or puncture the squeaking mechanism, but I still have one I got about six months ago that has the paint worn off and it still squeaks. This ball literally has everything. It squeaks, it bounces pretty high, it looks like a real tennis ball so my girl recognizes them as “toy” immediately, and they smell good. These balls in particular last forever. I got her a can of regular tennis balls and she had them in four pieces within 10 minutes or less, which is not healthy for her because she likes to eat the pieces. For this dog toy, I have never seen her crack it. She’s pushed the squeaker inside of exactly one of them so far, and it stayed inside the ball. Much safer than a toy that she can possibly ingest. The toys come in several colors, but it’s not just to make them look cute and colorful. The colors correspond to flavors, as each of the balls has a different scent. I’ve sniffed them and noticed there’s a mild food smell beneath the rubber scent. I can tell that dogs really do get a kick out of the “flavors.” I’ve taken these to the dog park and all the dogs want the Playology tennis ball, even if we have other generic balls flying around. My dog even has favorites. We have a muscle-head pit bull/staffy mix at the park who is a giant meat-ball. He got his hands on one of these and he wasn’t even able to break it open for at least 20 minutes of deliberate chewing. My girl’s favorite “flavor” for a long time was beef (the red one). The blue “peanut butter” flavor is the easiest one to find in stores. She was obsessed with a purple one for a while, apparently it was bacon flavor. I couldn’t find that one! I saw that Amazon has an orange “cheese” flavor and knew she’d love it. She’s obsessed. I really wanted to leave this review to convince people to invest in this product. Your dog will be so happy, and this company made something great. I’m worried because I went on their website yesterday and they had only one or two colors available. I don’t want them to stop making this amazing toy. I hope they don’t lose business because their product is TOO durable!! If they make more flavors, or maybe make some multi-dog (tug ropes?) or similar, I’ll definitely continue to be a customer. Please keep making these awesome tennis balls!
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Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2025
V
Verified Purchase
VickieCyber
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 5
Not Squeakable for Mini/Toy Aussies
Size: Medium (VALUE 2-Pack), Style: Chicken
Very durable and good squeaker. However, too large and hard for my Mini Aussies to squeak. My Aussies love their squeaky toys, unfortunately not this one.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2026
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Verified Purchase
GB
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 4
Not indestructable, but very sturdy
Size: Medium, Style: Beef
I have recently been blessed (and cursed) with my first Super Chewer dog, a year old Australian Shepherd. She will chew herself out of boredom, so it's imperative we always have sturdy toys readily available for her, preferably in every room. Playology and Kong by and large have been the best toys we can find for her. Kong has a very good rubber ball, bone, and ring that have held up spectacularly (no noticeable damage after months of use, except maybe some pin-prick teeth marks). Dogs need a wide range of textures though for enrichment, so we've been dabbling with the Playology line (the tire, plush bone, dry-tech rope), including this ball. The scent factor is definitely interesting. Most people know Playology for the peanut butter scents, so I was very excited to find a multitude of flavors available on Amazon, especially with the different scents clearly labeled. I choose the red or beef flavored since the only two in the medium size in stock at the time were beef and sweet potato. The scent is indeed noticeable to humans, but it's not too strong or overwhelming on its own (walking down the Playology aisle in Petsmart can be overwhelming though since they have dozens of dozens of scented toys, much like going down a candle aisle). I can't speak for the dog on how she feels about the scent, but she took to the ball immediately, same as the normal peanut butter ones we get. The medium size is pretty much perfect for her (she's just under 50lbs). It's got decent bounce for playing fetch in the house, but not so bouncy that we're afraid to use it in the house. It's got a decent density to it as well that adds to the sturdiness. The biggest issue is the squeaker. It's not an obnoxious squeaker by any means, and the dog enjoys it very much. However, when you put a squeaker in any toy, it reduces the density and creates a weak spot dogs can exploit. She did good with the ball at first and was able to sit and chew on it for minutes as a time without doing any real damage (her teeth leave lots of pin-prick teeth marks, but they don't do any real damage to the ball, just superficial marks). Aussies are considered incredibly smart though, and it didn't take her long to learn she could rip out the bottom of the ball where the squeaker is sealed inside to tear the squeaker out, thus ripping the squeaker apart and compromising the structural integrity of the ball. We're debating if we want to toss the ball in the trash or attempt letting her play with it in a supervised session without the squeaker to see if it is safe. So, overall, this is a very tough ball. It does accumulate teeth marks that are essentially harmless, but there is a weak spot in the seam where the squeaker is inserted, which means this is not indestructible. It is by and large a great ball for fetch and likely won't ever be destroyed unless a dog is left with it long enough to chew a hole through that squeaker seam. Playology balls are pretty costly though, so the risk of it becoming unusable once the squeaker is ripped out is a bit off-putting. The bright side is that if you monitor your dog, you can likely get several weeks or months of use out of the ball; just no unsupervised play sessions. 7/10, durable, bouncy, and the scent keeps the dog interested, but the ball is not good unsupervised as it can be destroyed if the squeaker is ripped out. We will continue to buy Playology toys, but we will likely not buy too many of these balls until a more durable one (maybe without a squeaker) is released.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2022
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Verified Purchase
Loving life!
New York, US
★★★★★ 1
No. Just no. My own dog shamed me…
Size: Medium, Style: Beef, Size: Medium, Style: Beef
My German Shepherd likes squeaky balls. She has lots of them. Most are similar to a tennis ball. By the way, don’t give your dog an actual tennis ball. The outer material is made for grip for tennis. It’s abrasive and is not good for your dog’s teeth enamel at all. Anyway, for $14.99, I thought I’d give this one a try. The pictured packaging alone was an eye grabber. The picture you see on Amazon is a cardboard with item specific info on the card: flavor, size, what it is (squeaky ball). The pictured product also has a hole in the card to secure and present the item the card describes. Even two color coded red zip ties securing the ball in the card hole. Awesome presentation and frankly that’s what made me give this a shot. So, as far as the presented product/packaging on Amazon, great job! I even sent a link to a buddy and he bought one too. Well, I cannot speak for everyone, but what I received was what’s pictured with my review. A red ball in a clear bag, along with a card that describes the product line. Nothing specific to what I actually bought (like the slick item-specific packaging on Amazon. To find that, I had to read the condensed description on the Amazon specific bar code that is right on top of a different barcode. This kind of thing displeases me. I want what grabbed my attention on amazon. No, this was not a return. This is how they come. I figured with item specific info on the packaging, the company is putting some money into packaging that makes you feel like you bought something specific. Pictured one says all natural beef. The chicken one says chicken. Pictured one says the size. Heck, I’d of been happy to at least have the ball attached to a card that at least says it’s a squeaky ball. Nope. Cost cutting is not ok when you are selling a beef flavored, medium size squeaky ball for $14.99. What arrives is an advertisement for the whole line, nothing that says what it is, the flavor, the size (unless you try to make out the Amazon bar code desc). Just a ball in a bag with an advertisement to buy other stuff they make. Maybe you received what’s pictured. I texted my buddy and asked him what he received. The exact same thing I did. In my opinion, when one cuts corners on packaging, I have no doubt corners could have been cut with the product itself. The squeak isn’t as easy as kong ball squeaker. Takes effort. So if your dog likes to play by walking/running around while constantly biting and getting that pleasing squeak each time, that didn’t happen here. Yes, I know the tennis ball type squeakers are different. But this says it’s a squeaker ball. Not just a squeaker ball, but a flavored squeaker ball. Mine smelled like rubber. Where’s the beef? I threw it a few times. My dog chased it a bit, did her usual “what’s this” evaluation, bit into it a few times with her very strong jaws, only to have no squeak. God as my witness, she dropped it, looked at me with what I insist is a look of disappointment, and walked away. She then went to the big bin of a huge variety of squeaky balls and grabbed one. She then went upstairs, with a squeak every second or so as she went up. I went and picked this one up with slobber and all. To get this to squeak requires opposing thumbs. So I suppose it could be marketed as a hand strengthener that squeaks. Friends lab had zero interest as well. So, I’m gong to actually return a dog toy. This was a disappointment. If it had come carded the way it shows on Amazon, I would not be as frustrated. I won’t take a chance when corners are cut when it comes to my dog. Update the picture to what I received is my advice to the company. I have a feeling what I got wouldn’t sell as easily. Topping it off, I noticed something odd. It doesn’t squeak when squeezing it, only when it is released to go back to its regular shape. So it’s a reverse reward. Weird. All the squeaker balls we have make a noise both when squeezing and releasing. Sorry Olina (my pooch).
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Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2023
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Verified Purchase
Dana H
Los Angeles, US
★★★★★ 5
Best Toy EVER!
Size: Jumbo, Style: Peanut Butter
I was a bit skeptical. We have had NO joy in finding toys for "aggressive" chewers that actually last more than a day for our 1 year old Staffordshire/Pittie mix. He has jaws of iron! (or so it seems) Nothing holds up. He is literally eating them, and subsequently gets them taken away, within 24 to 48 h ours. IF that long. He finds it a challenge to get to the center of whatever toy he has, whether it is supposed to have a center or not! We bought this in April of last year!! Yes, the squeaker is no longer squeaking (a blessing in disguise) but the ball itself is still intact, with no nicks, dings, pieces missing, etc. It still bounces well, and he still loves it. 1 year later, still going strong! I didn't realize it had been that long, until today. So I had to write a review, and buy a couple more Playology Jumbo toys. I hope they hold up 1 tenth as well!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2025

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