(Ricinus)

Castor bean is an evergreen, semi-woody shrub or herbaceous annual with deeply lobed glossy leaves in shades of green, purple, or bronze with red or purple stems. As a shrub castor bean grows 30’ tall. As an annual in cooler climates, it grows 6-15’ in height and 3’ or more wide. The effect is bold, upright, colorful and tropical. Red flowers occur in summer followed by spiny, oval reddish-brown fruit capsules. Cultivars include ‘Impala’, ‘Carmencita’, and ‘Zanzibarensis’. Castor bean prefers...

(Castorbean)

So why would gardeners grow such a deadly poisonous plant as a garden ornamental? Showy forms of castor bean are bold, brightly colored and thrive in high heat and drought. In tropical regions castor bean grows as a tall evergreen subshrub, but in temperate zones it is commonly grown as an annual/tender perennial. This native of northern Africa and western Asia has become naturalized in many tropical to subtropical regions across the globe where it is considered invasive. Some Third World countries...

(Castorbean, Red Castorbean)

The Carmencita variety of castor bean has showy red flowers and bronze-red leaves . This native of northern Africa and western Asia is grown for its large, bold, sharply lobed leaves and spikes of red flowers followed by spiny, oval red to brown fruit capsules. In tropical regions, castor bean grows as a tall, evergreen subshrub, but in temperate zones it is commonly grown as a tender perennial.

Castor bean prefers full sun and average well-drained soil. It provides a bold accent to any mixed...

(Castorbean, Pink Castorbean)

So why would gardeners grow such a deadly poisonous plant as a garden ornamental? Showy forms of castor bean are bold, brightly colored and thrive in high heat and drought. In tropical regions castor bean grows as a tall evergreen subshrub, but in temperate zones it is commonly grown as an annual/tender perennial. This native of northern Africa and western Asia has become naturalized in many tropical to subtropical regions across the globe where it is considered invasive. Some Third World countries...

So why would gardeners grow such a deadly poisonous plant as a garden ornamental? Showy forms of castor bean are bold, brightly colored and thrive in high heat and drought. In tropical regions castor bean grows as a tall evergreen subshrub, but in temperate zones it is commonly grown as an annual/tender perennial. This native of northern Africa and western Asia has become naturalized in many tropical to subtropical regions across the globe where it is considered invasive. Some Third World countries...

This ornamental castor bean has purple-red flower stalks, burgundy-tinted leaves, and rose-red seed capsules. It is propagated from seed.

Naturalized throughout the tropics, castor bean (Ricinus communis) is a large shrubby perennial that likely originated in northern Africa. In extra-tropical regions it is often grown as an annual for its bold, deeply lobed foliage and colorful, spiny seed capsules. It is also cultivated as a crop plant for its economically important oil, which is extracted...

Castor bean is an evergreen, semi-woody shrub or herbaceous annual with deeply lobed glossy leaves in shades of green, purple, or bronze with red or purple stems. As a shrub castor bean grows 30’ tall. As an annual in cooler climates, it grows 6-15’ in height and 3’ or more wide. The effect is bold, upright, colorful and tropical. Red flowers occur in summer followed by spiny, oval reddish-brown fruit capsules. Cultivars include ‘Impala’, ‘Carmencita’, and ‘Zanzibarensis’. Castor bean prefers...