Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Euphorbiaceae

Genus:

Jatropha

Species:

Jatropha curcas

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub , Tree

Height:

600 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

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

Bloom Colors:

yellow, green

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Native Range

Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mexico, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad-Tobago, Uruguay, Windward Is.

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

bees

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Resprouts vigorously from the base after fire or cutting damage.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

well-drained, sandy to loamy soil

pH:

6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

tolerates poor, rocky soils; drought-resistant

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

None required

Germination Time:

10–21 days

Notes:

Fresh seeds germinate readily without pretreatment. Optimal germination temperature is 25-30°C.

Propagation data sourced from Claude AI