What’s Blooming in Paradise
First impression: Red, petite flowers in a cluster to form the appearance of a large blossom. Shiny dark lobed leaves are an attractive back drop to the lipstick red petals. I notice the lovely, light gray, smooth bark on this multi-trunked tree. No fragrance that I can detect, but the pollinators are all around it. A dichotomy of islandy looking flowers paired with structure and form; you can see this unique ever blooming at the Botanical Gardens of the Sanibel Moorings.
Upon further investigation: Jatropha is part of a family which includes 150 species from the tropics and subtropics. Many Jatrophas are invasive for our zone, so be careful which variety you plant or your garden will turn mono-plant in the blink of your eye.
I really like integerrima Jatropha in the garden for its less aggressive nature and never ending blooms. Made for our tropical climate, drought tolerant, and can take full sun. Very versatile, may be planted and pruned as a tree or shrub. You decide the height; we have some that are 24 feet tall. The slender trunks can be pruned solo or left multi-trunked. I routinely shape and corralled the limbs because the plant is a fast grower.
Like many plants of the Euphorbiaceae family, it has a sap that is white, sticky and poisonous. Wear gloves, wash your hands, and never ingest this ooze; it has a highly-toxic quality. But it is a super-duper pollinator attractor; everyone (hummers love it) takes advantage of the nectar. You will appreciate this plant’s easy nature and lack of pests and disease.
Every now and then it will get a white or black scale on it. The scale can be combated with a systemic product when, applied to the roots of the plant, is absorbed by the plant’s roots. Once the plant has absorbed the systemic, the plant becomes deadly to this targeted scale insect, and only kills the chewing insect and no other beneficial insects. When you spray pesticides you are killing the good and bad bugs. Gardens need oodles of good bugs. It is a non-native species that hails from the West Indies and tropics. Interesting fact: its sap is being tested for a fuel alternative-varooooom!
Pros:
Ever bloomer
Does well in sandy soil
Likes full sun
Easy to maintain/prune
Easily propagated by seeds or transplant
Versatile shrub or tree
Pollinator attractor
Salt tolerant
Is great for tropical look in a garden
Maybe you can discover its secret to replace fuel and become rich
Must have for hummers
Cold tolerant
Easy care
Cons:
Be careful with sap
Fast grower
Pollinator attractor
Non native
Who doesn’t love hummers????
Conclusion: Blooms of bright vibrant red never ending, in a balmy tropical setting. Ahhhfollow those sighs of wonderment to our garden in paradise.
Don’t wanna miss this bloomer!
**Remember we have a yearly fertilizer restriction during July 1 thru Oct 2. This is a very important mandatory restriction to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus runoff into our precious waterways. Any fertilizing during our rainy season only ends up in our water resources as unwanted algae blooms.**