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Portulacaria afra f. variegata 5.5cm

Name: Portulacaria afra f. variegata 5.5cm
Brand: Greenleaf Garden Center
SKU: Portulvarieg5.5cm
Price: 2.5 EUR
Availability: OutOfStock

€3,00

€2,50

Quantity

Succulent · Didiereaceae · Cream and pink variegated leaves

Portulacaria afra f. variegata

An airy look brushed with pink and cream 🌸

Family: Didiereaceae · Pot diameter: 5.5 cm

Didiereaceae
Cream variegation
Pink new growth
Red stems
Miniature shrub form

Portulacaria afra f. variegata is an elegant succulent with small rounded leaves painted in soft green and cream. Fresh growth often carries a blush of pink, while fine reddish stems add depth and make the variegation appear even brighter.

Delicate branching creates the impression of a miniature mature shrub and gives the plant visual value from an early stage. It feels light, refined and remarkably versatile, with colour that never becomes noisy. For a collection built around gentle tones or a small living sculpture, it brings an immediately considered presence.

What makes it stand out

Three defining details that turn its botanical identity into real presence for a collection and interior.

Cream margins

Pale variegation brightens every small rounded leaf.

Pink fresh growth

Young tips can develop a soft warm blush.

Miniature tree form

Red stems branch to create a natural shrub miniature.

Why you’ll love it: it combines airy branching, cream leaves and pink detail in one calm miniature.

In your spacePlacement & plant pairingsWhere it looks best and which plants complement it

In your space

Where it looks its best

Display it in plain ceramic against a clean background so the red stems remain visible among the bright leaves. A slightly raised position shows the branching to best effect.

Plant pairings

Plants that complement it

Pair it with plants that genuinely share its light, substrate and seasonal rhythm. Separate pots keep care precise for each one.

Crassula ovata ‘Minor’ — a green tree-like relative with heavier foliage.
Echeveria ‘Purple Pearl’ — a rich purple rosette against the cream palette.
Adromischus cooperi — spotted grey-green leaves for textural contrast.

Care at a glance

Light

Very bright light with gentle sun to preserve cream variegation and pink tips.

Watering

Water once the mix has dried well at depth, with full drainage and no persistent dampness.

Variegation

A warm airy environment protected from frost and prolonged cold dampness.

Pets & children

It is not intended for consumption, and species-specific pet evidence is insufficient for an absolute safety claim. Keep it out of reach and prevent chewing.

For this plant

Substrate & nutrition

Suitable substrateSybasoil Cacti & Succulent Premium Mix 5ltView product

Suitable feedCactus&Succulent focus 100mlView product

Detailed careComplete care guideLight, drying cycle, climate, substrate and feeding in detail

Light and position

Provide abundant strong light and introduce gentle direct sun gradually. Shade lengthens internodes, while abrupt harsh exposure can mark the cream tissue.

Correct watering

Water deeply when the root zone is dry and the pot feels light. Let excess escape and wait for a new drying cycle.

Airflow and humidity

Keep air moving freely between the fine stems. Avoid misting that leaves moisture at joints and dense growing tips.

Temperature and seasonal rhythm

Protect from frost. When lower light and temperature slow growth, extend the dry interval and stop feeding.

Substrate

Use a porous succulent mix with a balanced mineral fraction and a clear drainage hole, avoiding an excessively large damp volume.

Feeding, repotting and handling

Give dilute balanced nutrition only during active growth. Prune selectively above a node for branching and repot without damaging brittle stems.

Botanical identityIdentity & natural originAccepted name, taxonomic history and natural or cultivated provenance

Botanical foundation

The accepted botanical foundation is Portulacaria afra Jacq. in Didiereaceae. Older placement in Portulacaceae does not reflect modern family classification.

The variegated form

The designation f. variegata is used horticulturally for the stable cream-and-green selection. It is neither a separate wild species nor a documented wild variety.

Range of the species

Wild Portulacaria afra ranges from north-western Kenya and southern Mozambique to South Africa, forming fleshy, strongly branched shrubs.

From natural habitat to care: The shrubby background of P. afra and its fleshy stems explain strong light and a drying cycle, while cream variegation calls for gentler acclimation to harsh sun.

Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScientific facts nobody asked forBotanical detail for anyone who wants to know what lies behind the plant’s appearance

Variegation and chlorophyll

Cream tissue contains less chlorophyll and therefore grows more slowly than fully green foliage.

Opposite leaves

Pairs of small leaves are arranged along jointed reddish stems.

Flexible CAM function

The species can increase CAM use under drought and operate differently when water is more available.

Secondary wood formation

Older stems harden and gradually support a miniature tree-like architecture.

Frequently asked questions

Useful answers about light, watering, seasonal rhythm and the plant’s correct identity.

01What light does it need?

Very bright light with gentle sun to preserve cream variegation and pink tips.

02When does it need watering?

Water once the mix has dried well at depth, with full drainage and no persistent dampness.

03Which potting mix is suitable?

Use a porous succulent mix with a balanced mineral fraction and a clear drainage hole, avoiding an excessively large damp volume.

04How should I follow its seasonal rhythm?

Protect from frost. When lower light and temperature slow growth, extend the dry interval and stop feeding.

05What needs care around children and animals?

It is not intended for consumption, and species-specific pet evidence is insufficient for an absolute safety claim. Keep it out of reach and prevent chewing.

06Why has one completely green shoot appeared?

This is a reversion of the variegation. Remove it at its base with a clean tool so it does not become the faster dominant section.

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Portulacaria afra f. variegata 5.5cm

Portulacaria afra f. variegata 5.5cm

Portulacaria afra f. variegata

What makes it stand out

Cream margins

Pink fresh growth

Miniature tree form

Where it looks its best

Plants that complement it

Care at a glance

Light

Watering

Variegation

Pets & children

Substrate & nutrition

Light and position

Correct watering

Airflow and humidity

Temperature and seasonal rhythm

Substrate

Feeding, repotting and handling

Botanical foundation

The variegated form

Range of the species

Variegation and chlorophyll

Opposite leaves

Flexible CAM function

Secondary wood formation

Frequently asked questions

Portulacaria afra f. variegata 5.5cm — Care & Tips

We take care of the packaging!

With specially designed boxes, we ensure that the plants will reach you intact, no matter what they encounter on the way!

All plants in 3L pots or larger are placed in individual boxes that secure the plant at the base of the pot, preventing it from tipping over.

The cardboard used for the boxes is specially made to provide resistance to potential impacts during transport.

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