Jatropha

A delightful shrub for a sunny spot in any size South Florida landscape, this pretty plant grows full and lush with regular trimming, and makes an excellent accent or anchor for a garden bed with other butterfly attracting plants. Not well-suited for sheared, manicured hedges, these plants are better in a more natural form. But with frequent trimming they can be kept nicely rounded for a formal landscape.

Butterflies love these plants. These are evergreen shrubs that need a well-drained location in full to part sun. Add top soil or organic peat moss and composted cow manure to the hole when you plant. This shrub is drought-tolerant once established. It will do best with a regular irrigation schedule and time to dry out between watering. Fertilize: 3 times a year in spring, summer and autumn, with a top quality granular fertilizer. You can supplement feedings with bone meal and/or liquid to keep the blooms coming on strong.

Plant in spring, summer, or fall, spacing plants 4 feet apart or closer if you want a hedge line. Dig a hole only as deep as the root ball and 2 to 3 times as wide. If your soil is in very poor condition, amend the soil you've removed from the hole with a small amount of compost. Otherwise don't amend it at all. Carefully remove the plant from the container and set it in the hole. Fill the hole half full with soil, then water it well to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets.