Castor Bean
- Botanical Name
- Ricinus communis
- Hardiness
- Zones 9 to 11, grown as annual elsewhere
- Height
- 5 to 10 feet
- Width
- 2 to 4 feet
- Flowers
- Mid to late summer: inconspicuous
- Light
- Full sun
- Soil
- Moist, well-drained, fertile
- Planting & Care
- Wear gloves when handling seeds
- Scarify the seed coat with a file before sowing
- Sow seeds directly outdoors after danger of frost or indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost
- Castor bean requires adequate water and fertilizer to perform its best
- Plants may need staking, especially in non-sheltered locations
- Problems
- SEEDS ARE POISONOUS! Do not plant where children may play.
- Varieties
- Carmencita Pink - pink seed heads, 5' tall
- Sanguineus - reddish leaves, 8' tall
- Zanzibariensis - green leaves, 10-15' tall
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