THE CASTOR BEAN is a shrub-like plant with large long-stemmed leaves that are lobed like fingers. Its spiny clustered seed pods contain white bean-like seeds (Botanically speaking it isn't a true bean but a Spurge) which typically bear attractive markings in various colours. The plant is native to tropical Africa but it is grown commercially in California and has become naturalized throughout the southern United States. In northern areas it is often cultivated in the warmer months as an ornamental annual in gardens providing local gardeners with a castor of thousands....
The Yellow Impala Castor Bean has striking maroon/carmine young growth. Clusters of creamy yellow blooms followed by maroon pods.
POISON LOCATION: Seeds bark & leaves are all somewhat toxic but the greatest concentration of the toxin occurs in the seeds & their pods. If you grow Castor Beans in your garden and you have children it is safest to remove & destroy the seed pods before they mature.
POISON TYPE: Ricin a poisonous protein one of a group known as plant lectins. In the right amount & concentration Ricin is said to be one of the most toxic natural poisons in the world. It works by inhibiting the synthesis of more complex proteins in the intestinal wall which in turn causes digestive distress. Castor Beans are traditionally cultivated as a basis of laxatives such as castor oil which is also used as an ingredient of industrial lubricants soaps & varnishes
My Grandmother use to plant one Castor Bean Plant near the garden to keep deer away!
- THE CASTOR BEAN is a shrub-like plant with large long-stemmed leaves that are lobed like fingers
- Its spiny clustered seed pods contain white bean-like seeds
- The plant is native to tropical Africa
- Clusters of creamy yellow blooms followed by maroon pods
- Seeds bark & leaves are all somewhat toxic
In frost-free areas castor bean is an evergreen herbaceous or semi-woody large shrub or small tree that gets up to 40' tall and 15' wide. In the tropics it can have a trunk that is woody near the base and up to a foot in diameter. Elsewhere castor bean plant grows as an annual that can get 4-15' tall in a single growing season. This is a fast growing suckering colony forming plant with decidedly tropical looking foliage. They tend to grow straight up at first developing branches only later in the season (and in subsequent years for plants that live that long). The huge leaves are palmate with 5-11 deeply incised lobes. They are glossy purplish or reddish-green and 12-30" across with long petioles (leaf stems). The stems are watery juicy and reddish or purplish too. The flowers are followed by reddish brown egg-shaped capsules about an inch long thickly covered with soft flexible spines.
Ricunus communis sanguineus (Sanguineus Castor Bean)
Notable features:
The large luxuriant red-tinged leaves of this Castor Bean are effective as a focal point or backdrop and instantly add tropical flare to any garden. Best treated as an annual.
Height: 400 cm (160")
Spacing: 90 cm (36")
Location: full sun
Flowering Time: July-August
Hardy zone: 9-10
- In frost-free areas castor bean is an evergreen herbaceous or semi-woody large shrub
- Up tpo 40' Tall
- Hardy zone: 9-10
- Flowering Time: July-August
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