Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrubs, Spurge
Succulent
Origin
Caribbean, Central America, South America, Madagascar, South Africa
Southern Africa
Types
Jatropha bullockii, Jatropha cinerea, Jatropha excisa
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
Not Available
Habitat
Pastures, Roadsides, Warmer regions
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
Not Available
10-12
AHS Heat Zone
Not Available
10-1
Sunset Zone
Not Available
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Twisted/Contorted
Flower Color
White, Yellow, Red, Purple, Pink
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
Not Available
Fruit Color
Light Green, Lime Green, Yellow, Green, Ivory
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Shape
Palmately Lobed
Succulent
Plant Season
All year
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Bright direct sunlight, Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Dry, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Slightly Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
All year
Late Spring
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Transplanting
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Low
Watering Requirements
Needs less watering, Water occasionally
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
In Summer
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
Ample Water
In Spring
Less Watering
Less Watering
In Winter
Less Watering
Less Watering
Soil pH
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Bright direct sunlight, Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune for shortening long shoots, Prune if you want to improve plant shape
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, No fertilizers needed
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Anthracnose, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Rust
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Drought and Salt, Heat Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Bold
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Not Available
Matte
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects, Hoverflies
Butterflies
Allergy
allergic conjunctivitis, Eye irritation
no allergic reactions
Aesthetic Uses
Not Available, Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin and hair, Removes pimples, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
Sometimes
Yes
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Insect Repellent, No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Suppresses or replaces native plants, Versatility
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Medicinal Uses
anti-allergy, epilepsy, Fever, Skin irritation, Skin Redness
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Sap, Seeds, Stem
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Oil is used as fuel, Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Used in biomass
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Hedges, Screening, Wind Break, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
JATROPHA
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Barbados nut, purging nut, physic nut, or JCL
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
रतनजोत
Elephant Bush
In German
Purgiernuß
Elephant Bush
In French
purghère
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
frailejón
elefante Bush
In Greek
jatropha
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
galamaluco
elefante de Bush
In Polish
jatrofa
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Jatropha
bush elephant
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Euphorbiales
Caryophyllales
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Jatropha
Portulacaria
Clade
Dicotyledonous
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Jatropheae
Not Available
Subfamily
Crotonoideae
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
Not Available
Importance of Jatropha and Elephant Bush
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Jatropha and Elephant Bush. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Jatropha and Elephant Bush as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Jatropha is anti-allergy, epilepsy, Fever, Skin irritation and Skin Redness whereas of Elephant Bush is Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation and Sore throat. Jatropha has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin and hair, Removes pimples, Skin inflammation and Skin irritation while Elephant Bush has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin and hair, Removes pimples, Skin inflammation and Skin irritation.
Compare Facts of Jatropha vs Elephant Bush
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Jatropha vs Elephant Bush and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Jatropha are allergic conjunctivitis and Eye irritation whereas of Elephant Bush have no allergic reactions respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Jatropha has showy fruits and Elephant Bush has no showy fruits. Also Jatropha is not flowering and Elephant Bush is not flowering . You can compare Jatropha and Elephant Bush facts and facts of other plants too.