Jatropha

Location

Butterfly Garden

  • Common Name: Jatropha (other common names: Peregrina, Spicy Jatropha, or Firecracker)
  • Scientific Name: Jatropha integerrima
  • Family Name: Euphorbiaceae
  • Origin: West Indies and Cuba
  • Height: 8’ – 10’ (up to 15’)
  • Width: 8’ – 10’ (up to 15’)
  • Growth: moderate to fast
  • Zone: 9B – 11 but best in 10 – 11 (frost and freezes will damage them, but they usually recover quickly.)
  • Light Needs: Partial Shade – Full Sun (flower best in full sun)
  • Salt Tolerance:  none
  • Soil/PH/Texture: soils can vary – clay, loam, and sand, acidic – alkaline. Not particular on soil pH.
  • Soil Moisture: average water needs, well drained, but once established it is fairly drought tolerant.
  • Drought Tolerance: moderate
  • Pests/Diseases: No pests or diseases are of major concern but occasionally bothered by mites, scales, and superficial leaf miner.
  • Growing Conditions: low maintenance
  • Characteristics: this tropical evergreen has slender stems and multiple trunks, individual flowers on this species are star-shaped and generally red, although a pink-flowered variety exists. Flowers are 1-inch wide and are produced year-round in beautiful clusters that are held upright above the lobed leaves.
  • Propagation: by seed (scarify) and from woody stem cuttings.
  • Wildlife: attracts bees, hummingbirds and butterflies, some of these butterflies that love the Jatropha are monarchs, swallowtails, and zebra longwings.
  • Facts: all parts of Jatropha are poisonous when ingested, so take care if you have children or pets around them and the milky sap can irritate sensitive skin.
  • Designer Considerations: used as a bush, specimen, accent or even makes a great container plant for your patio. It is also used in xeriscaping.​​
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