Portulacaria afra or Porkbush belongs to a large and widespread family Portulacaceae which includes the popular Portulaca. Probably it is the only member of the genus, but have some varieties. The name Portulacaria is composed of Portulaca and aria suggesting a similarity to the genus Portulaca. The word afra is indicate plant occurs in Africa.

Portulacaria afra is a succulent shrub, which naturally grown in semi arid, rocky lowlands in Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. The Porkbush is a popular succulent garden plant in use around the warm climates of world and is often used for bonsai.

Portulacaria afra is an attractive, evergreen succulent shrub or small tree that can reach up to 500 cm in height in natural sides. It is hardly reach to 200 cm. in garden situation. It has small round succulent leaves and red stems. Small star-shaped pink flowers are borne en masse from late winter to spring although flowering in pot cultivation is often erratic. The Porkbush is easily propagated from cuttings, the seed is not often available.

In the Addo National Park (South Africa) elephants eat the Porkbush from the top downwards allowing the plant to spread itself vegetatively by spreading horizontal branches at ground level. The leaves of the porkbush can be eaten and have a sour or tart flavour. It is preffered meal for many animals also by tortoises.

Traditional uses of Portulacaria afra also include the increasing of breast milk by lactating mothers. The leaves are used to quench thirst, sucking a leaf is used to treat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke. Crushed leaves can be rubbed on blisters and corns on the feet to provide relief. The leaves are chewed as a treatment for sore throat and mouth infections while the astringent juice is used for soothing ailments of the skin such as pimples, rashes and insect stings. The juice is also used as an antiseptic and as a treatment for sunburn. The porkbush has also been indicated as a soil binder for preventing soil erosion.

Use in Landscape: Porkbush can be used as a screen or even a clipped hedge. It also makes a handsome and hardy Bonsai. It is used in full sun or semi-shade in dry areas or even in well-watered flowerbeds at warm climates. It can tolerate a moderate degree of frost, when mature. If there is danger of frost, should be kept as pot plant in nursery.

It has been shown to be effective in carbon sequestration (binding atmospheric carbon which is responsible for climate change), in semi-arid landscapes and thicket vegetation it is also being used for restoration purposes.