Can Humans Eat Elephant Bushes?

December 15, 2025 •

3 min read

Native to South Africa, the elephant bush, scientifically known as Portulacaria afra, is widely consumed in its native region, where its leaves are celebrated for their distinctive tart flavor. This succulent, which is a staple food for elephants and other herbivores, is also a nutritious and safe addition to human diets when properly identified. It is important to distinguish it from the toxic jade plant, which it can be mistaken for.

Quick Summary

This article explores the edibility of elephant bush, detailing its nutritional content, culinary uses, and traditional medicinal applications. It covers important safety considerations for consumption and contrasts it with the toxic jade plant.

Key Points

Edible Succulent: Elephant bush (Portulacaria afra) is safe for human consumption and is a traditional food in Southern Africa.
High in Vitamin C: The leaves are a good source of vitamin C and other important minerals.
Distinctive Flavor: Leaves offer a tangy, lemony taste and can be added to salads, soups, and stews.
Medicinal Uses: Traditionally used to treat dehydration, exhaustion, sore throats, and skin ailments.
Jade Plant Distinction: It is crucial to distinguish the edible elephant bush from the toxic jade plant (Crassula ovata), as they can look similar.
Harvesting: Ensure you have positively identified the plant and harvest only from safe, pesticide-free sources.

Yes, Elephant Bush is Edible for Humans

It's a common misconception that elephant bush (Portulacaria afra) is inedible or poisonous to humans, possibly because it is sometimes confused with the toxic jade plant (Crassula ovata), which it superficially resembles. However, elephant bush is not only non-toxic to humans and pets, but its leaves are also a traditional food source in Southern Africa, often added to salads, soups, and stews for a tart, lemony flavor. The taste is a result of malic acid, which changes in concentration throughout the day, making the leaves less acidic in the evening.

Nutritional Benefits of Elephant Bush

Elephant bush is packed with valuable nutrients, making it a healthy addition to a balanced diet. Its leaves are particularly noted for their high vitamin C content, which is a powerful antioxidant. Additionally, the plant contains essential minerals that contribute to overall health. Beyond nutrition, the plant is valued for its environmental benefits, including its exceptional ability to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Traditional and Modern Culinary Uses

Historically, elephant bush has been a vital source of hydration and nutrition in arid regions. Traditional uses in Southern Africa include:

Chewing the leaves to quench thirst, especially during famine.
Using the leaves as a key ingredient in soups and stews to add a unique, tangy taste.
Incorporating fresh, chopped leaves into salads for extra flavor and crunch.

Modern culinary applications often draw from these traditions, with some people using the leaves in sauces or as a unique garnish for drinks. The leaves' juicy texture and tart flavor make them a versatile ingredient for a variety of dishes.

Medicinal Properties of Elephant Bush

In addition to its culinary uses, elephant bush has been utilized for centuries in traditional medicine to treat various ailments. Some of these medicinal uses include:

Hydration and Energy: Leaves are chewed to combat dehydration, heatstroke, and exhaustion.
Oral Health: Chewing the leaves is believed to treat mouth infections and soothe sore throats.
Skin Care: Crushed leaves or juice can be applied topically to soothe rashes, blisters, insect stings, and sunburn.
Lactation Support: Some cultures in Mozambique use the leaves to increase milk production in breastfeeding mothers.

How to Safely Identify and Harvest

Before consuming any plant, including elephant bush, correct identification is crucial. While it looks similar to the jade plant, there are key differences:

Elephant Bush (Portulacaria afra): Has smaller, rounder, fleshier leaves and typically red stems. Its leaves are slightly flattened.
Jade Plant (Crassula ovata): Features larger, thicker, more ovular leaves and green stems that only turn brown with age.

To ensure safe consumption, only harvest from a plant you have positively identified. It is also important to wash the leaves thoroughly, especially if the plant was grown with pesticides or in a cultivated environment. Harvest from a reputable source, such as a garden nursery, rather than foraging in areas where wild elephant bush could be confused with other plants.

Comparison of Elephant Bush and Jade Plant


Feature	Elephant Bush (Portulacaria afra)	Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)
Toxicity	Non-toxic and edible for humans and pets.	Mildly toxic if ingested by humans or pets, causing vomiting.
Leaves	Small, rounded, and fleshy leaves, typically 1/2 to 3/4 inch long.	Larger, more ovular leaves, about 2 inches long.
Stems	Reddish-brown, becoming woody and gray with age.	Mostly green, turning brown as they mature.
Native Region	South Africa.	South Africa, but distinct from elephant bush.
Culinary Use	Common ingredient in salads and soups in Southern Africa.	Not edible and should not be consumed.

Conclusion

Elephant bush is a safe, edible, and nutritious succulent with a long history of use in Southern African cuisine and traditional medicine. Its tart leaves offer a unique flavor to various dishes and provide a boost of vitamin C. While its resemblance to the toxic jade plant can cause confusion, careful identification is the key to enjoying this versatile and beneficial plant. With proper knowledge, you can confidently explore the culinary and health benefits that elephant bush has to offer.

Resource

For more information on the environmental benefits of this remarkable plant, visit the Slow Food Foundation's page on Spekboom: https://www.fondazioneslowfood.com/en/ark-of-taste-slow-food/spekboom/.

Frequently Asked Questions

Elephant bush leaves have a tangy, lemony, and slightly sour flavor due to their high concentration of malic acid. The intensity of the taste can vary depending on the time of day.

Yes, elephant bush leaves are commonly used in salads in Southern Africa to add a fresh, tart flavor and a crunchy texture. They can be chopped and mixed with other greens for a unique twist.

The main differences are in their leaves and stems. Elephant bush has smaller, rounder leaves and reddish-brown stems, while the toxic jade plant has larger, more ovular leaves and green stems.

Yes, elephant bush (Portulacaria afra) is considered non-toxic to most pets, including cats and dogs. The same cannot be said for the jade plant, which is toxic.

Historically, elephant bush has been used to treat dehydration, exhaustion, and heatstroke by chewing the leaves. The leaves can also be crushed and applied to the skin to relieve blisters, rashes, and sunburn.

Elephant bush is native to Southern Africa, particularly the semi-arid Karoo region, where it is a vital part of the ecosystem and a food source for elephants, goats, and other wildlife.

First, ensure you have correctly identified the plant as Portulacaria afra. Only consume leaves from a plant that has not been treated with pesticides, and wash them thoroughly before eating.