Ricinus communis
Castor Oil Plant
Ricinus communis has green leaves shaped like palms with varying numbers of 'fingers' which have serrated edges. It produces spikes of small reddish coloured flowers, after which seed pods form. It is often grown as a half-hardy annual. WARNING: all parts of the plant, including the seeds, for all Ricinus species are poisonous. Please handle with care and always wash hands after handling any part of the plant or seeds
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Full sun
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Occasional watering
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Frost Hardy: 23F (-5°C)
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Moist and fertile
Common name
Castor Oil Plant
Latin name
Ricinus communis
type
Perennial Flowering plant
family
Euphorbiaceae
ph
5.0 - 8.5 Acid - Neutral
Plant & bloom calendar
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Best time to plant
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When the plant will bloom
full grown dimensions
Ricinus communis
Ricinus communis has green leaves shaped like palms with varying numbers of 'fingers' which have serrated edges. It produces spikes of small reddish coloured flowers, after which seed pods form. It is often grown as a half-hardy annual. WARNING: all parts of the plant, including the seeds, for all Ricinus species are poisonous. Please handle with care and always wash hands after handling any part of the plant or seeds
Planting Outdoors
From Mid Spring TO Late Spring
Once frosts have gone plant out into a position that is in full sun, water in well.
Propagation by seed
From Mid Spring TO Late Spring
Seeds need to be soaked for a day before planting, sow into separate 3 inch pots. Pot on into larger pots when roots start poking through the bottom. Plant out after all signs of frost have gone. Save the seeds for propagating the following year.
Flowering
From Late Spring TO Late Summer
Spikes of reddish small flowers after which seed pods, after which seed pods form.