I have many photos of my castor beans.
I have grown them for several years and just LOVE them!
Just send me an email if you wish to see pix.
In the meantime, here is a helpful sheet for growing castor beans. Some is my text, some was found on the net. CASTOR BEAN The plants grow extremely fast. The largest plants develop from
seed started early inside,
so you might wish to begin early in the year in your house.
Castor bean likes a deep, rich soil, sheltered from winds. The
seeds are both attractive and poisonous so
should be kept away from children. Soak the seeds overnight for
the best germination results.
The seed can be started outside in the garden. Push the
seeds into the soil with the nubby end going in first.
Do not pack the soil over the seed. They will germinate in seven
to fourteen days
but I have had them come up in less than one week with bottom heat
germination mats,
which are available at your local hardware store most of the time.
Be patient. You might want to assist the seedling by removing the
seed carefully as it emerges. Sometimes the seed clings tightly
and causes the
foliage not to be able to come out.
As they grow, you may notice a "shell" on the leaf.
A white, sometimes pink veined filmy thick tissue.
This shell is sometimes too heavy for the plant to bear, thus it
will droop nd may snap the plant's neck. I remove this shell after
it has
loosened. Try not to rip it off the poor plant.
Also, the leaves are very large for such a tiny stem when they
first come up, so you may need to assist it in getting it's head
out of the
ground by scratching the soil around it in order that it may lift
it's head up easily when
ready. They like water and full sun, but grow in the shade.
They won't grow much in the shade, however.
As they grow, watch the seed pods develop.
Try to check on your plants often, as the seed pods will be
green one day, and cracking open the next. If you harvest the
seeds in the summertime when it is hot, they will actually crack
and pop open like popcorn. It is fun to remove the shells when
they pop!
If you have any other questions about your castor beans, please do
not hesitate to email me. Castor bean plant good for barrier use WASHINGTON -- For people with a need for a fast-growing barrier
plant, the castor bean plant is hard to beat. It is valuable for a number of uses: to fill garden space; as a
handsome live barrier to wall off a neighbor's property, a busy
street or an unsightly garage; or to separate a patio from a lawn.
The seeds germinate reliably enough, but for those who missed
sowing them in May, seedlings grown in plastic pots are available
in some nurseries. It is amazing to watch the seed grow in just one season into an
exotic, well-proportioned shrub 8 feet tall or even taller and
about as wide or sometimes wider. Glistening in the sun, shiny new
leaves seem to form and spread out every day. The plant, known
botanically as Ricinus communis, is native to Africa. By late
September, the cultivar Zanzibariens has been known to reach a
height of 15 feet. The stems are sturdy and self-branching, and the attractive
leaves, which form a dense canopy, can be green, bronze-red or
red, as wide as 3 feet in diameter. They look like magnified maple
leaves that have grown additional lobes all around. The castor bean plant has spread like a weed in milder parts of
California. But outside the tropics, the plant is an annual. A
sunny site is a critical requirement for full size and spectacular
beauty. Free of pests and diseases, the castor bean plant has a
reputation for repelling moles and gophers. The seeds are as attractive as beads -- and sometimes are used as
beads, but they are poisonous. They yield an oil that has been put
to use in parts of Asia as a facial oil and against warts. Today,
the oil also is added as an ingredient in paints and varnishes. It is a one-of-a-kind plant, with only one species -- an oddity in
the plant kingdom. But there is another garden giant well worth cultivating. The
angelica is smaller than the castor bean plant and not as
dramatic, though it is unquestionably attractive. Up to 6 feet
tall and a little less wide, Angelica archangelica develops large
clumps of sturdy stems. The leaves are glossy pale green and
quickly form a dense fortress. They are topped by dozens of airy,
greenish-white flower heads that resemble domes. A member of the carrot family, this well-loved, old-world plant
often is listed as an herb. Every part of it has been put to good
use. Its dried roots have been used for centuries as a tonic to
fortify the blood and to beautify the skin. James Duke's book on
herbal medicine, The Green Pharmacy notes that angelica has chemical compounds that strengthen the
heart and the stomach and helping to clear the skin. In Europe,
the confectionery trade appreciates the taste and the perfume of
the flowers. Angelica will thrive in locations with only half-a-day sun or even
more shade. But the soil must be rich, porous and, most important,
not allowed to dry out. Many gardeners have lost stout specimens
of angelica seedlings because of insufficient moisture, though the
plant shouldn't be overwatered either. The flowering stem soon withers after blooms fade, and the entire
plant will die back if too many stems set seeds. Those seeds that
do form and fall to the ground are likely to germinate and sprout
by the dozen the next year. Castor bean plant and angelica are annuals that live short but
happy lives. They have immense energy but invest none in growing
root systems that can survive winter and allow them to return the
next season. They live for lavish foliage, and those who love
flamboyant plants during summer are lucky beneficiaries. Name: Ricinus communis Common name: Castor bean, castor-oil plant.
Family: Euphorbiaceae. Description: Tropical-looking tender shrub;
purplish, red or green fan-shaped leaves and burgundy stems.
Hardiness: Generally regarded as an annual, except in USDA
Hardiness Zones 9 and 10. Landscape uses: Provides tall screen or leafy background in a hurry for temporary hedges, backs of beds
and poolsides.
Precaution: Seeds are extremely toxic. Ricinus communis
Castor bean adds tropical flair to landscapes In India and China, castor bean is an important crop for
industrial and pharmaceutical uses. Here in North America, we
prefer to use it as a super-fast ornamental plant with bold and
striking foliage. Ricinus communis is easy to produce, reaches a
large size in a short time and makes an excellent temporary screen
or background planting. Plants can reach 12 feet tall and up, and
6 feet wide in a season, smaller in cooler climates. Castor bean should be regarded as an annual in all zones except
USDA Hardiness Zones 9 and 10. In the tropical South, it will over
winter and become quite woody and treelike. Purple, red or green
leaves and burgundy-colored stalks and stems add a novel hue to
patios, poolsides and beds. Individual leaves can be up to 3 feet
across! Orange or white flowers are without petals and are
clustered in long panicles; the attractive fruit is covered with
soft, orange-brown spines. Seeds (or beans) are toxic, so keep
plants out of reach of children and do not plant castor bean where
children play. To prevent seed formation, pinch off the burrlike
capsules while they are small if you do not wish for seeds. Several selections are commercially available: 'Dwarf Red Spire'
is a lower-growing plant (6 feet) with red leaves and seedpods;
'Sanguineus' has blood-red foliage and stems; 'Zanzibarensis' has
very large green leaves. Growing castor bean Propagation is by seeds, sown indoors at 70F-85F. Seed germinates
in three to four weeks. Soaking seeds in water overnight before
planting may enhance germination. Plant six-week-old seedlings in
quart or gallon containers using a standard, well-draining potting
mix. In the landscape, castor bean likes deep, rich soil,
sheltered from winds. It prefers full sun and regular irrigation.
Unfortunately, castor bean is susceptible to a number of fungal
and bacterial diseases. Fungi can attack irrigated plantings at
any stage of growth, though most damage is on young plants. After
germination, seedlings are susceptible to a number of root and
stem rots, which become more prevalent in wet soils. The most
common diseases are Fusarium, Rhizoctonia and Sclerotium, all
capable of decimating young plants. Use a fungicide seed treatment
where the incidence of soil-borne pathogens is known to be high
and for irrigated plantings. -- Name: Ricinus communis
Common name: Castor bean, castor-oil plant.
Family: Euphorbiaceae.
Description: Tropical-looking tender shrub; purplish, red or green
fan-shaped leaves and burgundy stems.
Hardiness: Generally regarded as an annual, except in USDA
Hardiness Zones 9 and 10.
Landscape uses: Provides tall screen or leafy background in a
hurry for temporary hedges, backs of beds and poolsides.
Precaution: Seeds are extremely toxic. Complete Castor Bean Growing Guide Below is a Growing guide I created myself, using the all the
information available on Internet. I have tried to make it
accurate and as general as possible so it would pertain to most
regions. I have also included some of my own observations as I
have grown castor beans for some years now. Let me know what ya
all think. Growing Castor Beans (Ricinus Communis) Description of the Plant : It is thought to be a native to the
Ethiopian region of tropical Africa. The Castor Bean (Ricinis
Communis) is a plant of massive proportions and produces large
tropical palmately-lobed leaves. The leaves are glossy and often
red or bronze tinted when young. White, insignificant flowers
appear in clusters at the end of the main stem in late summer. The
fruit capsules consist of an oblong spiny pods which contains
three chambers each occupied by one seed. The plant is
not a legume (from the bean family) as the name would imply, but
is a member of the Euphorbia family. Growth Habits : The Castor Bean, a fast growing plant, makes a
dramatic focal point in the garden. It can
form a giant plant with huge fleshy leaves that grows to a height
of 6 to 15 feet and 3 to 6 feet wide in a
single growing season. In colder regions it is grown as an annual.
In the south and southwest the castor
bean can be grown as a perennial. Grows best where temperatures
are rather high with adequate moisture.
Requires a growing season of 140 to 180 days to produce mature
seeds. They tend to do best planted in
full sun even in the hottest parts of the southwest, but may fail
to set seed if temperatures exceed 100
degrees for an extended period. Sowing Date : Castor Beans tend to do best when planted directly
in the ground and may be directly sown
outside after the soil has become warm and frost danger is past.
They are generally planted at the same
time corn or tomatoes are planted. Germination can be slow,
usually taking 10 to 21 days after planting. Seed Preparation : Soaking the seeds in water, overnight, before
planting may enhance germination.
Additionally, scarifying or scratching the seed coat with a file
or sharp knife, can also help the seeds to
absorb water and begin germination. Soil : The Castor will tolerate a wide range of soil types, but
grows best in a soil of medium texture. Does
well in either alkaline or acid soils, as long as there is good
drainage. One of the more important factors
for seed production is the supply of nitrogen in the soil.
Insufficient nitrogen results in reduced castor bean
yields. Excessive nitrogen produces heavy vegetative growth with
little or no increase in seed yield. Planting Depth and Spacing : Seeds should be planted at a depth of
approximately 1 to 1 1/2 inches and
plant should be spaced approximately 4 feet apart. Harvesting/Seed Capsules : The spiny seed pod or capsule is
composed of three sections which turn
brown when mature. Each section contains a single large seed and
as it dries and splits open, the seed is often ejected. Harvesting
usually takes place in late summer to fall. The shiny seeds of
castor plants are a little larger than pinto beans, with very
beautiful and intricate designs on the surface. Like human faces,
fingerprints or the spots on a leopard, no two seeds have exactly
the same pattern. The seeds resemble the bodies of ticks,
particularly ticks engorged with blood. Seeds retain viability for
2-3 years. Additional Information
The seeds are both attractive and poisonous so should be kept away
from children. The entire plant and seeds of the Castor Bean are toxic and hands
should be washed after handling the
plant and seeds. Additionally, some allergy-prone people may experience contact
dermatitis from
touching the plant, so caution is recommended. | 
