I got roped into going to a front and backyard sale this morning. There had to have been an acre of property, but it was so jam-packed with plants it was disconcerting. They weren't the best specimens; lots of bromeliads - a little raggedy and the prices were way too high I wish I'd take photos to prove to myself what I saw. I wouldn't pay the ridiculously high prices, but did find some Buddha Belly baby plants for a couple of dollars. I know I am going to repot it tomorrow, put it in the right location and wait. I've never, ever, seen one for sale at any of our nurseries and certainly not at the big box stores. I was first introduced to it when a Master Gardener brought one in for our monthly meeting/lunch/plant swap and a speaker. Someone snatched that one right away. She said she would bring seeds in, but never did.

Are you referring to Jatropha podagrica? They are easy to grow, best if kept on the dry side. I basically have mine among my Adeniums and they get the same conditions.

Yes, that's the one.

I've never grown Buddha Belly Plant (Jatropha podagrica) but I think I've seen them for sale at Home Depot or Lowes in the past and the blooms do attract butterflies and hummingbirds so I'm not sure why I never bought one. it sure is pretty and I like that the size stays at 2 to 3 feet in height.

@plantladylin -- you must have more "upscale" big box stores in your neighborhood. I asked some of my gardening friends - and they've never seen one there for sale either.

I'm probably wrong ... it was more than likely the Spicy Jatropha (Jatropha integerrima) that the big box stores had.

Elfie I grow it here. Easy peasy. Mine's in a pot, mostly because we do get at least one or two hard frost/freezes every winter. I find volunteers from seed in the flower bed where the pot sits occasionally when the pods burst before I catch them. I water when it's dry, but it doesn't seem to have an issue when we get our torrential summer rains either. It get's morning sun, mid day dappled sun/shade, then very late in the day sun again. Maybe I'll move it this year to the succulent bed where it get's a little more sun. I don't even remember the last time I fertilized it, tho I did repot it last year, well, really just refreshed the soil and put it back in the same pot.

@mj -- How big a pot. They prefer to be a little pot bound, yes?

Elfie,
It's in at least a 12 in. pot. It's been in that pot for several years. I just tip it out, shake off some of the old soil and add fresh. It wasn't super root bound last year when I did it. It blooms pretty much from March to Nov/Dec.