Spekboom
Portulacaria afra
A succulent thicket-builder; the small sour leaves go in salads and stews, and elephants prune it into hedges.
Hardiness: zones 9 to 11
Light: full sun
Size: about 12 ft tall, 8 ft wide
Harvest: year-round
From: Eastern Cape
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food, wildlife, pollinators.
Native to: Cape of South Africa. Hardy in zones 9 to 11.
The story
Spekboom thicket once covered great stretches of the Eastern Cape. Elephants browse it from the top, which makes it root and spread, and people have long eaten the leaves and used them to quench thirst. It is now replanted to heal eroded land.
Planting
Full sun and any soil that drains. It roots from a cut stem pushed into the ground.
Growing
Water rarely. Clip it as a hedge or let it sprawl; it also thrives in a pot.
Harvest and use
Pick leaves any time for salads and stews. They are sour in the morning and milder by evening.
What to watch for
Frost and soggy soil. It grows slowly in shade.
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General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home