Jatropha integerrima - Shanghai Beauty

The plant & photos
The Jatropha seems to be better known as the Spicy Jatropha but I prefer the name "Shanghai Beauty" because the flowers give me an "oriental feel", in that they look very chinese and won't be out of place in a Chinese painting. I was happy to find the reference as I thought it was pretty apt, even though the plant originated from the West Indies.

From my observation, it's pretty fast growing and does well in full sun - which also brings out the vivid colour of the red flowers, which is great as it's pretty free-flowering. The photo on the left was taken on a sunny day, and shows how lively the blooms can be. The buds remind me of holly berries.

As a shrub, I suppose it should be pruned regularly to keep it growing densely.

The Personal-take
As mentioned, I think the flowers give off a very oriental vibe. They are very attractive and I like the way they grows in bunches. Although I like how it's very generous in its flowering... that it doesn't play hard to get... it might be more exquisite if it were less free flowering, and if its leaves were smaller, and if it grew a little slower.

How contradicting! Everything has its personality and it's almost as if, I am wishing for it to be something else. I must apologize~ and correct my attitude to appreciate it for what it is.