Jatropha multifida
| Light | Bright light to full sun; tolerates light shade |
|---|---|
| Water | Regularly in the warm growing season, letting the top of the mix dry; much drier and cooler in winter |
| Soil | Free-draining but moisture-retentive mix with plenty of grit (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Warm; keep above about 10 °C, no frost (USDA zones 10–12) |
| Propagation | Seed, or cuttings (see Propagation — cuttings) |
| Toxicity | Highly toxic — all parts, and especially the seeds, are poisonous if eaten to people, cats and dogs |
Jatropha multifida is a semi-succulent shrub or small tree in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae), grown for its handsome, deeply divided palmate leaves and its long-lasting, flat-topped clusters of small coral-red flowers. These showy scarlet heads held above the foliage give it the common name coral plant; it is also known as Guatemala rhubarb and physic nut. Like many members of the genus, it is easy and fast-growing — but every part, and above all the seeds, is dangerously poisonous.
Description
Jatropha multifida grows as an open, few-branched shrub, in time reaching a couple of metres or more, with a smooth grey-green stem that is somewhat swollen and fleshy at the base and exudes a copious milky or clear, irritant latex when cut. The leaves are the plant's chief ornament: large, rounded in outline and cut almost to the base into many narrow, deeply toothed lobes, giving a lacy, deeply divided palmate silhouette. They are a soft green above and paler beneath, carried on long slender stalks.
Flowering can occur through much of the warm season. Small coral-red to scarlet flowers are gathered into dense, flat-topped cymes (corymbs) held on long stalks well clear of the foliage, so the heads seem to float above the leaves. Male and female flowers appear in the same cluster. These are followed by fleshy three-lobed capsules that ripen to yellow and split to release the seeds.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to Mexico and the Caribbean, and has long been carried around the tropics and subtropics as an ornamental and hedge plant, becoming naturalised in many warm regions. It favours seasonally dry, sunny sites and copes well with heat and poor soils, storing moisture in its thickened stem base to ride out dry spells.
Cultivation
Jatropha multifida is one of the easier semi-succulent shrubs to grow. Give it bright light to full sun and steady warmth; it resents cold and will drop its leaves below about 10 °C, so it is best grown as a container or conservatory plant wherever frost occurs. Plant in a free-draining but not bone-dry mix with added grit, and water regularly while it is in leaf and growing, allowing the surface to dry between waterings. Reduce watering sharply as growth slows in autumn and keep it barely moist and frost-free through winter; see Watering for general technique. Feed lightly during the growing season, and repot every year or two while young to keep it moving.
Because the plant is fast and can become leggy, many growers prune after flowering to encourage a bushier shape. Wear gloves and wash hands afterwards — the sap can irritate skin and eyes, and the seeds are a serious poisoning risk (see Toxicity).
Propagation
The species is easily raised from seed, which germinates quickly in a warm, moist, free-draining medium; see Propagation — seed. It also strikes readily from stem cuttings taken in the warm season — let the cut end dry and callus for a day or two before inserting it into a gritty, barely moist mix, as described in Propagation — cuttings. Handle seeds with care and keep them well out of reach of children and pets.
Toxicity
All parts of Jatropha multifida are poisonous, and the seeds are especially dangerous: they are attractive and nut-like but contain toxic compounds (including the toxalbumin curcin and irritant oils) that can cause severe vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and dehydration, sometimes seriously so, if swallowed. The milky sap can also irritate skin and eyes. Grow the plant out of reach of children and pets, dispose of pruned seed capsules carefully, and seek medical or veterinary help promptly if any part is eaten.
Common problems
- Cold damage — leaf drop and stem dieback follow chilling or frost; keep the plant warm and dry in winter.
- Rot — the swollen base and stem will rot if kept wet and cold; sharpen drainage and ease off watering when growth stops.
- Pests — watch for mealybugs, scale and spider mites, particularly on plants brought indoors for winter (see Pests and diseases).
- Legginess — in poor light the stems stretch and flowering suffers; give maximum brightness and prune to shape.
See also
- Jatropha — the genus overview
- Euphorbiaceae — the spurge family
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — seed · Propagation — cuttings · Repotting · Pests and diseases