Jatropha Carcas

Jatropha Carcas

Tropical woody perennial shrub to small tree to 20 feet, native to the American tropics. Hardy to Zones 10 to 12.  Does excellently in a heated sunroom or greenhouse.   Highly drought-tolerant, this plant can also be grown in tropical wastelands or in the desert.  Containing up to 40% oil, the seeds can be processed to produce biodiesel that will run a standard diesel engine.  This is probably the most highly valued of all green diesel plants.  Seeds are also the source for the toxic molecule known as toxalbumin curcin–internal use not recommended. Also source of an alkaloid known as jatrophine which purportedly has anticancer properties.  External use of the plant for medicinal purposes is well documented.  The latex is used for treating rheumatism and for treating sores on domestic stock, also as an emollient for treating hemorrhoids.

The seeds are sown in mineral-based cat litter or perlite (germ-free) in plastic-pots. Please sow the seeds on the mineral soil. Bigger seeds need to be covered with the mineral soil, small seeds should remain on the surface.

Then put the plastic pot in a zip-lock bag - with a pot size of 6 cm , a zip-lock bag of size 12 x 17 cm is recommended . Fill in the zip-lock bag as much tap water with a few drops of universal fertilizer, so that after the absorption of the substrate a few mm of water remain on the bottom.

Location: on the windowsill or in a small greenhouse in partial shade, daytime temperatures at about 73-83 F, somewhat lower at night at 68-72 F. 

price is for 5 seeds