Light. Grows in full sun to partial shade. Plants in full sun flower best.
Water. Water regularly while it establishes. After that it is drought tolerant and needs well-drained soil.
Soil and feeding. It tolerates sand, clay and loam, acidic or alkaline, as long as the soil drains well.
Size. Usually kept at about 8 ft. Unpruned, peregrina can reach 15 ft tall and wide.
Pruning. Prune young plants to build strong structure. It takes pruning well as a multi-trunk tree, single-trunk standard or shrub. Wear gloves, because the milky sap can irritate skin.
Problems to watch. Mostly pest-free, though mites, scale and leaf miners show up occasionally. It is not salt tolerant, so keep it away from salt spray.
Good to know. All parts are poisonous if eaten, especially the seeds; keep it away from children and pets. Frost damages it, but it usually recovers quickly. Hummingbirds and butterflies visit the flowers.
Sources: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Jatropha · UF/IFAS EDIS ENH478: Jatropha integerrima, Peregrina
