Life Span
Annual
  
Perennial
  
Type
Shrub
  
Shrubs, Spurge
  
Origin
Brazil
  
Caribbean, Central America, South America, Madagascar, South Africa
  
Types
Abutilon Hybridum
Abutilon Megapotamicum
Abutilon Palmeri
  
Jatropha bullockii, Jatropha cinerea, Jatropha excisa
  
Habitat
Grassland, Rocky areas
  
Pastures, Roadsides, Warmer regions
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-10
  
Not Available
  
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
  
Not Available
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Not Available
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Upright/Erect
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Yellow, Red
  
White, Yellow, Red, Purple, Pink
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Tan
  
Light Green, Lime Green, Yellow, Green, Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
  
Palmately Lobed
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
All year
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Bright direct sunlight, Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Medium
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Dry, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Slightly Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
All year
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Not Available
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
  
Seedlings, Transplanting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Low
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Form a Soil ring to water efficiently, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Use Mulches to help prevent water loss during hot and windy weather, Water Deeply
  
Needs less watering, Water occasionally
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Less Watering
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Less Watering
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Neutral
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Bright direct sunlight, Full Sun
  
Pruning
Prune in spring, Remove dead leaves, Remove deadheads
  
Prune for shortening long shoots, Prune if you want to improve plant shape
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, No fertilizers needed
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
Anthracnose, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Rust
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought, Drought and Salt, Heat Tolerance
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Not Available
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Birds, Hummingbirds
  
Bees, Flying insects, Hoverflies
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
allergic conjunctivitis, Eye irritation
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Showy Purposes
  
Not Available, Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Good for skin and hair, Removes pimples, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Sometimes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification, Insect Repellent, No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Suppresses or replaces native plants, Versatility
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Diarrhea, Lung Problems
  
anti-allergy, epilepsy, Fever, Skin irritation, Skin Redness
  
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
  
Leaves, Sap, Seeds, Stem
  
Other Uses
Showy Purposes
  
Oil is used as fuel, Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Used in biomass
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
  
Container, Feature Plant, Hedges, Screening, Wind Break, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
ABUTILON megapotamicum
  
JATROPHA
  
Common Name
Indian mallow or Velvetleaf
  
Barbados nut, purging nut, physic nut, or JCL
  
In Hindi
Abutilon
  
रतनजोत
  
In German
Abutilon
  
Purgiernuß
  
In French
Abutilon
  
purghère
  
In Spanish
Abutilon
  
frailejón
  
In Greek
Abutilon
  
jatropha
  
In Portuguese
Abutilon
  
galamaluco
  
In Polish
Abutilon
  
jatrofa
  
In Latin
Abutilon
  
Jatropha
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Tracheophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Malvales
  
Euphorbiales
  
Family
Malvaceae
  
Euphorbiaceae
  
Genus
Abutilon
  
Jatropha
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Dicotyledonous
  
Tribe
Malveae
  
Jatropheae
  
Subfamily
Malvoideae
  
Crotonoideae