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elephant ear plant phoenix arizona

elephant ear plant phoenix arizona Buy Elephant's Food Phoenix, AZ | Portulacaria afra

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elephant ear plant phoenix arizona 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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Juno
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 4
Sturdy, works well
Size: Width 16.5", Fully Adjustable Desk Mount, Style: Single
Been using this for awhile. I move it around a lot and it keeps up. My only complaint is it occasionally loosens so I have to find the tool and retighten it. Mine also came with a piece broken, and I never got any sort of replacement part. That's a bit on me, but it's rather annoying when one of the laptop clips continuously falls off.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2026
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DanniKalifornia
Houston, US
★★★★★ 5
Absolutely fabulous products!
Size: Width 14", Adjustable Desk Mount, Style: Dual
The only downfall of this product is that there is no instant up/down adjustment on the arms. Otherwise this mount is outstanding. It is easy to put together, the only items you'll want that aren't in the box are a screwdriver and a wrench. It went up in just a couple of minutes, and it's sturdy and very well made. I like that I can put it flush to a wall because it does not need any room behind it. This is beyond amazing for the inexpensive cost. I would buy it again in a heartbeat. Also adding to the awesomeness is an array of additional arms and accessories for this you can find from Wali to make your setup perfect for you, all at great prices. I've got my office setup complete with three arms and two laptop trays and the whole thing cost less than a single arm I purchased from Amazon Basics. Handy thought regarding the laptop trays is that they're a nice size, and with the catch at the bottom, I've found I like to use it as a literature tray. I drop a book on there and it holds it at a nice angle to read from when transferring or referencing data. The trays do bounce some when typing, but much less than any other type of arm/tray system I've ever used. Highly recommended!
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Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2019
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Chelsea, US
★★★★★ 5
Not as complicated to put together as it seems, and quite sturdy
Size: Width 14", Adjustable Desk Mount, Style: Triple
When I first unpacked this stand, I was initially overwhelmed by the number of parts that were included in the package. I didn’t realize there were extra parts included to offer you two choices for how to mount the stand to your workstation. Once I got that sorted out, I relaxed a bit more and was able to assemble the unit single-handedly and mount two 22” monitors and a laptop to give myself more room on my desk. It was a bit challenging to move the arms to just the right angles and height, but I did get it after a few tries. I used the re-positionable clamp instead of the desk- through grommet mount. It feels very sturdy, and I feel as long as I periodically check the tension and tightness of the bolts, it will hold up everything just fine. I am not thrilled with the cable management clamps that attach to the round center pole, so I’ll probably end up looking for different clamps or even just velcro fasteners to loop around the post. The clamps that snap onto the arms themselves are fine and hold the Displayport and power cords in place well. I thought about dinging this unit a star for the weird center post clamps and also because the black coating on part of the round post is flaking off, but really, I can work with those things/cover up the cosmetic issues. I was super-impressed by the way the hardware was included in labeled, individual plastic compartments. The instructions were pretty good, too, although I would have liked the print to be a little larger - once you hit your forties, you reach for readers or have to get up close and squint to see small print… Overall, I’m pleased with this unit.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2025
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Julie
Dallas, US
★★★★★ 5
Game changer
Size: Width 14", Adjustable Desk Mount, Style: Dual, Size: Width 14", Adjustable Desk Mount, Style: Dual
**update 2026** Okay I've just upgraded this mount so let me update my review. I am keeping 5 stars because for an entry level budget mount it did its job. Here's why I changed: if your desk is not solid wood, the base of the mount is too narrow and will start to sink in. Also, after a few years one of the arm started to sag. I upgraded for a mount double this price so not outrageous but the base is wider and the arms are sturdier. I am still happy I purchased that one because for my budget it did the job so these years and it's better than not having it. Still recommend if your budget is low and you need to save desk space, it's a great starter. If you can wait and save twice this, I suggest you do and skip to the better ones though. **original review 2020** Been using this mount for about 3 months, time to review: It is an absolute game changer! Cheap, easy to assemble and install, feels sturdy. At first my wife was skeptical because she thought it would be a gimmick but it frees up so much space, it brings both monitors to the same eye-level height, the mouse cable never gets stuck under the laptop anymore, and it holds the cables in place so that when she has to run with the laptop they don't fall behind the desk anymore (see picture). All these little details improved her productivity. And just visually it looks much better I think. Laptop: 15" Monitor: 24"
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Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2020
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R. Friesel Jr.
Lexington, US
★★★★★ 3
Works fine overall, but... "you get what you pay for"
Size: Width 16.5", Fully Adjustable Desk Mount, Style: Single
Filed under: "you get what you pay for"? I like the price point and FOR THE MOST PART this arm is getting the job done in my home office space *but* a few points... (1) The little "claw" to hold the laptop in place has these little "locks" that are on the under side which... that's OK but they can be hard to see and it just seems like an extra part that can break -- vs. a ratcheting clamp. (2) The tension on every movable part was ALL out of whack when I first installed it. I set the laptop onto the cradle and it basically collapsed -- flipping down as far as it would go. I had to adjust the tension to be significantly higher in order to hold steady -- but NOW it's hard to "fine-tune" because the tension on that joint is so stiff. On the other hand, the main "elbow" joint is easy to adjust *and* holds steady all day, but within seconds of taking my laptop off of the arm, it springs up -- sometimes rather violently. (3) The overall build quality seems a little weak. The main screw to hold the laptop stand in place had a little cap to make it easier to twist it by hand -- but this snapped off during the initial installation. Not a deal-breaker because once it was in place, I didn't expect to move it again BUT it was still disappointing. (4) Not a deal-breaker for me BUT... there's practically no included cable management. Just... be aware of that. Otherwise... instructions were pretty clear vis-à-vis how to install and -- like I said -- it seems to be getting the job done w/r/t/ getting the laptop up off the desk and MOSTLY aligned with my other monitors.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2025

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