Jatropha podagrica

Buddha Belly Plant is an unusual tropical succulent shrub from the tropical Americas. It is grown as a houseplant in NC and generally reaches 2-3 feet but grows 8 feet tall in its native habitat. The caudex is bottle-shaped, knobby, and gray-skinned, growing erect and narrowing near the top. Leaves sprout from the upper portion of the plant. The flower clusters are held above the leaves, have both male and female flowers, and are orangish-red in color. It will bloom off and on most of the year, even into winter after the leaves have dropped. The oval green seed capsules mature to brown and open when ripe throwing the seeds outwards for some distance. If you want to collect seeds for new plants you will need to cover the capsules. Small net baggies work well for this. The sap from the plant can cause skin irritation.

Grow this plant in sun to partial shade in well-drained soils in a pot with several drainage holes. Allow the soil to dry between waterings. In fall the leaves will begin to drop off and the plant should be brought inside. Reduce watering in the winter. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Monitor for mealybugs, aphids, spider mites, scale, thrips, and whiteflies. Potential plant diseases include root rot, red leaf spot, botrytis, and southern blight. All parts of this plant are poisonous. Exercise caution around children and pets. Wear gloves when handling this plant. The sap can cause contact dermatitis.