Castor Bean (Ricinus communis)

Castor Bean (Ricinus communis)

Red Castor Bean (Ricinus communis carmencita)

Red Castor Bean (Ricinus communis carmencita)

Castor Bean, Palma Christi, Ricinus communis is a tropical plant that can reach 30 to 40 ft. Grown as an annual in cold winter climates it can grow from 5 to 15 ft high and can provide a bold tropical look around patios and borders. Huge deeply lobed leaves can reach more than 1 ft. wide and more than 1 ft. long. Foot long clusters of flowers are followed by spiny pods containing the seeds that are ripe when the pods dry and grey-brown in color. The pods of the Red Castor Bean are bright carmine red before drying out. The overall shape of the regular Castor Bean is quite uniform in shape with slightly larger leaves than the Red variety. The Red Castor Bean has a very colorful trunk and leaf stems of a burgundy-mauve.

In zones 8 to 10 it is a perennial and becomes more tree than plant. Seeds are poisonous if taken internally. Keep away from children and pets. Besides being the souce of Castor Oil, the seeds are also used for illumination, soapmaking, and lubrication. The seeds were much used by ancient Ecyptians and metioined by Herodotus. The plant has many medicinal uses. Silk worms can be fed on the leaves. Stems are used in papermaking. Ecuadorian Indians string the seeds and burn them like candles. Scalded leaves once used externally as a galactagogue. Foliage may cause rash. Soak seeds overnight and plant in pots to sprout in 1 to 12 weeks at warm temperature. Plant out in the ground in May. Seeds may last 5 to 12 years. Store in dark, cool location.