Jatropha Plants in the Landscape

• Jatropha refers to a varied subtropical and tropical plant family that includes perennials, trees, shrubs and succulents. The flower structure of jatropha plants are very similar. Jatropha plants are related to euphorbia and exude a milky sap that irritates the skin and is painful if it gets in the eyes. Some plants in the jatropha group are not toxic. Certain jatropha plants produce nuts that have a high medicinal value. A number of jatropha plants are ideal for use in landscapes.

Peregrina

• Peregrina (Jatropha integerrima) is an evergreen plant ideal for use in landscapes, with its elliptic or oval foliage and star-shaped, scarlet flower clusters. The large shrub or small tree serves well as an ornamental planting at its mature height of 15 feet and 10-foot spread. The plant is a native of the West Indies and adapts to a range of well-drained, soil conditions. Plant in areas of full sun to partial shade. Peregrina is well tolerant to drought and is hardy in USDA zones 10 to 11. The plant has a low resistance to cold and is easy to propagate with cuttings taken in spring.

Coral Plant

• Coral plant (Jatropha multifida), also referred to as Guatemala rhubarb and physic nut, is a jatropha variety native to Central America, Brazil and Mexico. The rapid growing shrub is good for use in foundation plantings in landscapes and achieves a mature height of 6 to 12 feet. The plant is single trunked with a loose, spreading crown and blooms with bright coral red, flat-topped clusters of flowers intermittently all through the year. The flowers are most abundant in hot weather. Coral plant has dark green foliage with lighter undersides and adapts well to a range of soils, except salty. Grow in full sun to partial shade. Coral plant is hardy in USDA zones 10 to 12.

Ashy Limberbush

• Ashy limberbush (Jatropha cinerea) is also referred to as lomboy blanco and is hardy in USDA zones 9b to 10. The evergreen shrub is a popular landscape plant in warmer regions of the United States because of its ability to tolerate heat. The plant also has a moderate to low water requirement once established and is a native of Mexico. Ashy limberbush grows to a full height of about 10 feet under ideal growth conditions. The foliage of the shrub is a favored food of the larva of the native moth Rothschildia cincta.