Those who are regular readers of these online jottings will know that Elephant bush-sometimes called dwarf jade or baby jade (Portulacaria afra) is one of my favorite species for bonsai. One if it's chief recommendations is hardiness. That quality is demonstrated in these two photos, taken about a month apart.
The first photo shows the morning after a rabbit came calling in my back yard. My neighbors spend lots of money on those sprays and treatments, so there is a green,grassy smorgasbord all around, but still the bunnies come to my back yard to sample twigs and berries.
This plant is called elephant bush, because in the plant's native range, elephants eat it in large quantities. Goats and other live stock also use it for fodder. Apparently the rabbit didn't like it much-he bit the leaves and then spit it out. Result-one decapitated plant.
But just a few short weeks later-look-the plant has pushed forth a bunch of new leaves and is going strong and hardly missed a beat. Also, check out the snipped off portion-the leaves are still fresh and moist. This would root easily if I simply pushed the stem into the soil.
If the name cast iron plant wasn't already being used, maybe that would be a good moniker for this plant, too!
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