Spicy Jatropha

17 years ago

I bought a plant marked 'Spicy Jatropha' at a plant sale extravaganza at the arboretum yesterday. It is a cutting taken from the mother plant in the seller's garden. I asked her about its growing needs and mature size. She said she grows two of them -- one in shade, one in sun. One gets more water than the other and gets a little bigger, but she said both get about 4'x4' (as described by her hand motions) and said it grows in sun or shade, but seems to like sun best.

I got home and did some research on this plant. Most of what I read said it gets MUCH bigger than 4'x4'. The Floridata site said there is a 'Compacta' variety that is smaller but still gets much larger than 4'x4'. I also read that it loves hot sun. We had a week of mid-20s last winter (normal low is low 30s) but she said hers have survived upper teens.

Here's a picture of the one I bought...

Since she said hers easily stays at about 4'x'4 I'm assuming I have the 'Compacta' variety (I hope so). If I'm correct, how big should I expect it to get at maturity?

I am considering trying it in a large pot next to the patio where it will get direct hot sun in the afternoon when the sun passes to the west of the patio cover.

If it likes being in the pot, then I can move the pot around to find the best sun exposure.

Assuming I have the 'Compacta' variety (or not), what is the best sun exposure and water needs for this plant in your experience? We have hot, dry summers (southern California).

Thanks,

Jen

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Comments (4)

ginibee
17 years ago
Jen, I'm no expert by any means, but I do have 3 of the jatrophas growing in my yard. I have them facing east so they get morning sun and mostly shade the rest of the day. My friend keeps hers in full sun so I don't think they are too particular. I do not have the compacta, but they can be pruned pretty hard. I have made trees out of mine and one I keep pretty low so it won't block the window. They are always in bloom and the butterflies love them. I'm sure you can keep it in a pot for awhile anyway, but it may eventually outgrow it. We had a terrible drought last summer and I didn't do any extra watering to the plants and they didn't seem to suffer. To me they are one of the most carefree plants I have - and one of the best. Hope this helps a little.

Ginny
birdsnblooms
17 years ago
Jen, what size pot is the Jatopha in now? I wouldn't rush and repot in a huge container. Most Jatorpha's are slow-growing..if you pot in too big a container, there's a chance it'll rot if overwatered. All my Jatropha's are in 4" pots, go dormant in winter..They get very little watering in winter, only when soil is super dry. And no fertilizer during winter months.
Are you planning on growing in a pot or ground? Toni
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From what I have read they want full sun, and they want it warm. It might not look so great now because it is too cold. As soon as is warms up it will perk back up. It wants protection if you get frost. At low 30's you are getting close to freezing. It was also listed as a small tree but could be pruned to make it bushier. A pot around 15 inches across should work well for a few years with some good potting soil. I love Jungle Growth from Lowes. Hope this helps some. :o)
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I have several and love them . Two have been moved several times and are rather tall and airy shrubs.One is their child and has become a small tree.I was just out on our evening doggy walk and saw a neighbor's who was probably 15 ft tall as a tree and gorgeous!!!! Not seeing too many butterflies but my place is a smorgasboord for BUTTERFLIES so they meay just be picky/
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Irma, Mine may have branched out that high too if I didnt keep whacking it down to about 3 ft max and then left little nubs for all the new branches to start from. I looked for a pic of the butchered tree, but didnt find any at all, yet anyways. IF it gets nipped by the winter weather, I will take pics this time. I am not saying DO THIS but my hunch is that if its an established plant you currently have, it will tolerate the brutal pruning with ease, mine has. I always trimmed ours at the end of winter. Good luck should you decide to do it.
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We have a Spicy Jatropha about 2 years old. It's about 6 feet tall, growing in front of a south-facing fence where it gets full sun (late morning until evening). Back in March, it had some new growth at the top of all the stems. Then, we had a late cold spell one night and temps dipped into the low thirties, nipping the new growth. Now I don't see any new growth --- or maybe it's just afraid to come out, LOL. The only sign of life is one leaf on a lower branch. I haven't scratched any branches yet to check for green... I'm remaining hopeful that tomorrow, tomorrow it will start growing again. We have another one still in the 1-gal black nursery pot I purchased earlier this year. It's only a foot high, and has lots of top growth and blooms. It's in a different spot in the yard but I don't think it gets any more sun than the other one. What's up with our Jatropha?
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jenn
Original Author
17 years ago
Toni, it is still in the 1-gallon black plastic nursery pot. I have decided to put it in the ground in a spot that gets direct south-east sun from early morning until early afternoon, plus reflective heat against the house. It should be happy there.

Ginny, thanks! Sounds like a great plant.

Jen
costaricafinca
17 years ago
I have never heard of this variety. I grow J.multifida and J. podogrica and they are amongst my 'all time favourites'.I am even considering planting J.curcum for bio-diesel productivity. Both very fast growers with prolific seeds being produced, which in turn, sprout and grow fast!
Does anyone have seeds to spare fof this Spicy jatropha? I can supply some of mine or something else? It is very difficult to purchase 'unusual seeds' here...just the basic veggies.

Spicy Jatropha

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ginibee

birdsnblooms

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