Castor Bean Plant (Ricinus communis)

[Durgan]

Ricinus communis translates to common tick probably because the beans resemble a tick in shape.

Why grow this plant in Canada? Well, for me it adds a tropical touch to our summers. The leaves are huge and certainly appear tropical. The beans are highly toxic (deadly) and care should be taken with children and pets. I usually do not let the plant go to seed or I pick all pods except for the amount I need for seed next season.

Pictures of one of my white castor bean plants. This plant is grown for two reasons. It gives a tropical effect, which is very attractive in our northern climate, and any bug that eats the leaves surely dies. So it is biological control of some leaf eaters or so I believe.

I have two plants of the white and two of the red. The plants are in ideal locations so I can see just how large they can get by the end of the season. They do not survive our frosts in Zone 5. The red is probably more attractive, but is generally smaller in the leaf than the white one. White and red is the general background colour of the beans they produce. I will post pictures of the beans when they mature. I keep tight control of the beans, meaning I account for everyone, since they are very poisonous to small curious dogs.

Here is some detailed information about the plant.
https://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/castorbean.html
https://waynesword.palomar.edu/plmar99.htm#ricin

My Pomeranian (6 months) ate two beans from my seedling pots about three years ago. I knew that two beans were missing. He threw up one partially chewed and I could not find the other. I observed him carefully, and he started to shudder after about an hour. I called Animal Poison Hotline in the US and got a quick lesson on ricin. I took the dog to an after hours veterinary hospital and $800.00 later the next day he was just fine. I don't think the dog chewed the bean just broke the outer skin. It was an expensive experience. Exercise due care.

Two types of Castor bean I am growing. The Red one has a red stem, and the bean has a red background. The Green type has a white background seed and the stem is all green. People tend to grow the red type, but the green has larger leaves in my experience.

30 July 2006. Green castor bean plant is getting large. The tropical look is pleasant in our northern climate.

14 August 2006 Update on growth. Beans are forming.

Red castor Bean Plant (Ricinus Communis) seed pods are ripening. The green plant seeds are not ripe as yet, due to a very wet fall. Eventually I only got a few seeds. Pictures of the red bean plant are are shown. The pattern is different on opposite side of the beans. Germination is almost 100% judging from last year's effort.

The beans should be handled with rubber gloves. A worker in a nursery told me her job was sorting beans from the pods, and she got a severe rash on her hands when sorting the beans. So handle taking reasonable precautions.

Usually the seeds are ripened on the tree. I pick them after they are brown, and are dry. They are started indoors about 1 March and the germination rate is almost 100%, and the plant grows quickly. The plants are put in full sun in the ground after danger of frost has passed about the third week of May in Zone 5. Each plant has several hundred seeds, so I cut the clusters off and destroy them, so animals cannot ingest them, since to do so is a sure and painful death, by ricin poisoning.

I grow the plant because of the tropical appearance, which is attractive in our cold climate. Anything to create the illusion of the tropics is most welcome.

Durgan.

[Jess]

Hi Durgan.
I am not stalking you honest!! but we do seem to share the same interest in tropical looking plants. I have grown the Ricinus before now but I am not that keen on plants that will die and have to be careful growing anything poisonous...kids, pets etc. I am trying to over winter a banana outside this year. It is just too big to bring in . So far it has survived although it looks very straggly. All I have done to protect it is to wrap the base through the winter which I take off on warmer days. I have also grown a trachycapus fortunei from 2ft to 9ft! Looks amazing slap bang in the middle of my garden. Phormiums seem to do very well too but I need to water a lot and mulch regularly because my ground is quite dry. Will post some pictures in due course (saw your thread on that, good idea). Love looking at the pictures you post. Makes it far more interesting.

[Durgan]

[quote="Jess. Love looking at the pictures you post. Makes it far more interesting.[/quote]

Most gardens are full of poisonous plants, and most people are unaware, but having knowledge of them is probably prudent.

I see by your profile that you list England. England is a large place. How about a locality?


Durgan.

[Jess]

OMG!!! I take my hat off to you.
My garden is miniscule compared to yours and all that work
Still mine is a lot cheaper to fill so thats one benefit I suppose.
You obviously like to grow everything and anything not just exotic looking plants. Liked the Canna display you had there and was it cucumbers growing on the pergola? That looked pretty cool and the vege beds!..I am so jealous...all that fresh veg. Cute little dog too.

In answer to your question I live in the South East about 50 miles from London. Last year we were the hottest part of England so Global warming has its advantages. Means I can grow things here that you couldn,t grow further North.

[Durgan]

OMG!!! I take my hat off to you.
My garden is miniscule compared to yours and all that work :shock:
Still mine is a lot cheaper to fill so thats one benefit I suppose.
You obviously like to grow everything and anything not just exotic looking plants. Liked the Canna display you had there and was it cucumbers growing on the pergola? That looked pretty cool and the vege beds!..I am so jealous...all that fresh veg. Cute little dog too.

.

Those things growing on the "pergola" are Luffah.

Durgan.