Jatropha Integerrima Spicy Jatropha is a dense, evergreen shrub with a rounded growth habit. The leaves are green and velvety on top, and purple flecked on the bottom. They are held on long leaf stems and have sharp points on the lobes. In late spring and summer, clusters of 1-inch wide, 5-petaled deep red flowers with yellow stamens appear at the branch tips. Spicy Jatropha performs best in full sun in frost-free locations but grows in light shade and goes semi-deciduous in colder locations. This evergreen shrub is tolerant of saline conditions and can withstand a wide range of soil pH as long as the soil is well drained. It can be used for screens or as a patio container shrub.