How To Care For Castor Bean Plant (Ricinus communis)

28.11.2023 - 21:03 / getbusygardening.com / Amy Andrychowicz

Castor bean plants are easy to care for, low maintenance, and they grow very quickly.

Even beginners can enjoy the large showy foliage in their gardens once you learn how to care for them.

This guide will teach you what your plant needs for water, sun, soil, and fertilizer, plus I’ll share tips on location, temperature, pruning, and much more.

Table of Contents

Castor bean plants (Ricinus communis) are tropical perennials native to East Africa. This fast-growing plant and can get up to 6-10’ in just one season, reaching heights of 40’ or more in warm climates.

Stunning star-shaped foliage is the main characteristic, and it can be green, red, bronze, or purple. The large serrated-edged leaves range between 2-5” across, and grow at the top of semi-woody stems.

The seeds resemble an engorged tick, which is where the name “Ricinus”, the Latin word for ‘tick,’ came from, and also why it’s two common nicknames are “ricin plant” and “dog tick plant”.

There are many castor bean cultivars to choose from and each feature different foliage, stem, and seed pod colors. Thankfully, no matter which type you choose, they can all be cared for in the same way. Here are some of the more common ones.

Castor bean plants have male and female flowers that form on a long stem, and both are insignificant in appearance. Depending on the climate, they can bloom year-round, or will appear in mid to late summer.

The female flowers grow in clusters at the end of the spikes and have no petals. The males appear beneath them and have creamy colored ends when they bloom.

Once pollinated the females form striking a pom-pom shaped pods with spiky pink or red outsides, adding to the beauty.

All parts of castor bean plants are extremely poisonous to people and animals,