Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Euphorbiaceae

Genus:

Jatropha

Species:

Jatropha cardiophylla

USDA Symbol:

JACA2

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub

Height:

100 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

mar,apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep

Bloom Colors:

red, pink

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Caterpillars:

★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds, small mammals

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Resprouts from root crown following fire or damage; typical of Sonoran Desert subshrubs.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil

pH:

6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

native to arid and semi-arid regions

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

None required

Scarification:

Seed coat scarification required before sowing

Germination Time:

14–30 days

Notes:

Scarification of hard seed coat improves germination. Seeds germinate best with warm temperatures.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI