Jatropha podagrica
| Light | Bright light to full sun; a little afternoon shade in the hottest climates |
|---|---|
| Water | Regularly in growth once the mix approaches dry; keep dry when leafless in winter |
| Soil | Free-draining but not starved; a gritty mix with some organic matter (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Warmth-loving; protect from frost, USDA zones 10–12 |
| Propagation | Seed (readily self-sows); cuttings less reliably |
| Toxicity | Toxic if eaten; sap is a skin and eye irritant — keep away from pets and children |
Jatropha podagrica is a caudiciform, semi-succulent shrub from southern Mexico and Central America, grown for its fat, bottle-shaped stem and its long-stalked heads of small, coral-red flowers held well above the foliage. The swollen, grey-skinned base — reminiscent of a rounded belly or a squat bottle — gives it the common names Buddha belly plant, gout plant and bottleplant shrub. It is one of the easiest caudex plants to grow and flower, and a popular introduction to the world of fat-stemmed succulents. Though not a cactus, it earns a place in many succulent collections. See the genus page Jatropha for its relatives.
Description
Jatropha podagrica builds a swollen, water-storing stem (a caudex) that is broad and bottle-like at the base and tapers upward, usually branching only sparingly. The skin is smooth and greyish, sometimes marked with the ringed scars of fallen leaves. Old plants may reach a metre or so tall in the ground but stay far more compact in a pot.
The leaves are large, lobed and long-stalked, glossy green above and paler beneath, clustering toward the growing tips like a small parasol. In cooler or drier spells the plant drops its leaves and rests, standing bare as a sculptural caudex.
The flowers are the main event: small, five-petalled and a vivid coral-red to orange, gathered into flat-topped clusters on tall, branching stalks that lift them clear of the leaves. A healthy plant can bloom on and off for much of the year in warm conditions. The seed capsules that follow ripen and split explosively, flinging seed a surprising distance — which is why stray seedlings often appear in nearby pots.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to the seasonally dry tropics of southern Mexico and Central America, and has been widely planted and naturalised across the warmer parts of the world as an ornamental. In habitat it grows in rocky, well-drained ground that is warm year-round but sees a distinct dry season, during which the plant leans on its swollen stem for stored water and often sheds its leaves.
Cultivation
Jatropha podagrica is one of the more forgiving caudiciforms, but it rewards a grower who respects its dislike of cold and wet feet. Give it bright light — full sun in most climates, with a little relief from the fiercest afternoon heat in the hottest regions — as too much shade produces soft, leggy growth and fewer flowers.
Unlike many pure succulents, it appreciates fairly regular water while in active leaf: water thoroughly once the mix has approached dryness, then let it approach dry again. As the weather cools and the plant drops its leaves, cut water right back and keep the caudex nearly dry until growth resumes. It is not frost-hardy; keep it comfortably above freezing and move it under cover in winter where nights turn cold. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
A word of caution: like other members of the Euphorbiaceae, the plant carries an irritant sap and its seeds are poisonous if eaten. Wear gloves when cutting or repotting, keep the sap away from eyes, and site the plant out of reach of curious pets and children.
Propagation
Seed is by far the easiest route, and the plant often does the work itself — the ripe capsules burst and scatter seed, which germinates freely in warm, moist conditions. Sow fresh seed on a warm, gritty surface and keep it lightly humid; seedlings begin thickening their little caudex early on. See Propagation — seed for a full walkthrough.
Cuttings are possible but less dependable: a stem cutting will often root, yet tends to grow on without developing the fat basal caudex that makes the species so appealing, so most growers stick with seed. See Propagation — cuttings.
Common problems
- Rot — the usual killer, from cold combined with wet soil, especially while the plant is leafless and resting; keep it dry and warm over winter.
- Leaf drop — normal in a cool or dry rest, but sudden loss in the growing season points to cold draughts, underwatering or a check to the roots.
- Etiolation — too little light gives soft, stretched growth and a poorly formed caudex.
- Pests — mealybugs and spider mites can appear; scale insects occasionally settle on the stem. See Pests and diseases.
See also
- Jatropha — the genus overview
- Euphorbiaceae — the family
- Watering · Soil and potting mix · Propagation — seed · Propagation — cuttings · Repotting · Pests and diseases