Consulta Plantas

Care of the indoor plant Jatropha integerrima or Peregrina

The genus Jatropha, family Euphorbiaceae, includes 175 species of succulent plants, shrubs and trees native to Central America and Africa. Some species are: Jatropha integerrima, Jatropha podagrica, Jatropha multifida, Jatropha gossypiifolia, Jatropha macrantha.

Common names: Firecracker Jatroph, Spicy jatropha, Peregrina, Peregrine, Coral plant, Chaya, Firecracker. This species is native to Cuba.

They are shrubs with succulent stems that reach 1 meter (3.28 feet) in height indoors and 3 meters (9.84 feet) outdoors. They have shiny dark green trilobed leaves with very marked veins. The flowers appear in cyymos inflorescences and are red or pink (contrasting with the foliage). They bloom during the summer.

These tropical plants are used as indoor and greenhouse plants. They are ideal for gardens by the sea due to their resistance to salinity.

Jatropha integerrima needs a light exposure but without direct sun. They do not resist the cold below 10 ºC (50 ºF).

The soil can be a mixture, in equal parts, of peat, coarse sand, and leaf mulch.

Water moderately while waiting for the substrate to dry. They need high humidity; Place a plate with wet pebbles under the pot.

Fertilize with compost in early spring.

Prune lightly at any time of year to maintain a compact appearance.

They propagate by cuttings (they produce irritating latex) that are left for 3 days in a shady place to heal before putting them in sandy soil to root. They also propagate from seeds sown in the nursery.

Images of the indoor plant Jatropha integerrima or Peregrina