A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Plants and Flowers Forum New Plant Profiles Castor Oil Plant

Castor Bean
Ricinus communis



How to Plant, Grow and Care for Castor Beans

Please remember everyone, all parts of this plant are toxic, especially the seeds! I still love it and have grown it every year except this one, due to running around with my elderly parents.

you know I guess I did not really know this, but I always grew it at the opening of my garden to help deter the moles.

and they are so pretty too.

They are pretty. For years they were actually illegal to grow or to allow to be grown on your property here. I guess that ban is over. But because they were so poisonous and the seeds are pretty and attractive to kids, they had been banned. They also grow easily and pretty much take over here. Pesty plants for California waste places and they will pop up in your yard too.

They are not hardy here in the colder zones, so they do not become a problem, as far as spreading. I have always grown them on my deck in a large pot, so I can control who has access to them, plus I get to have that tropical feel when I look out my kitchen sliding doors - the leaves get so nice and huge!