Jade Bonsai Tree, botanical name Portulacaria afra, is one of the most popular bonsai trees. Because it is very adaptive to different environments, drought tolerant and easy to style, it is considered to be the best plant for the beginners.
Advanced bonsai enthusiasts also like it because it is very easy to style.
In natural environment can reach height of 2 meters or more. However, if grown as a bonsai tree in a small container, it grows only to about 7 inches.
This evergreen is native to Southern Africa where it is often consumed by elephants, hence the common names Elephant’s Food, Elephant Bush, Elephant Grass, and Elephant-Plant. It has a think trunk topped with dense elliptic leaves.