Intermediate
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Ricinus communis (any variety) (Castor oil plant (any variety))
2 hours care
per year
per year
2m
Max height
Max height
1m
Max spread
Max spread
1 year
To maturity
To maturity
Low
Toxicity
Toxicity
Plant details
Botanical name
Ricinus communis (any variety)
Other names
Castor oil plant (any variety), Castor bean (any variety)
Genus
Ricinus Ricinus
Variety or Cultivar
R. communis (any variety) _ f you don't know the variety name of your Ricinus communis (Castor oil plant) you can add this plant to your lists to get care advice.
R. communis (any variety) are tender, erect, branching evergreen shrubs, often grown as annuals, with upright, stems bearing broadly ovate, deeply lobed, toothed, green, reddish-purple, or bronze-red leaves. Clusters of yellow-green or red flowers in summer are followed by spherical, reddish-brown to maroon capsules covered in soft spines in autumn.
Ricinus communis (any variety) is: Evergreen
Habit
Branching, Erect
Toxicity
All parts of the plant, particularly the seeds, are extremely poisonous if ingested. Contact with the foliage may cause skin irritation.
Flower
Yellow-green, Red in Summer
Foliage
Green, Bronze, Reddish-purple in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Glasshouse red spider mite Glasshouse red spider mite
General care
Pruning
Deadhead regularly. May need restrictive pruning if grown under glass.
Propagation
Soak seed for 24 hours prior to sowing. Sow at 21C in late spring.
Propagation methods
Seed
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Ricinus communis (any variety) (Castor oil plant (any variety)) will reach a height of 2m and a spread of 1m after 1 year.
Suggested uses
Architectural, Beds and borders, City, Conservatory, Containers, Greenhouse, Sub-Tropical, Wallside and trellises
Cultivation
Outdoors, grown in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Use stakes if planted in exposed sites. Alternatively, grow under glass in loam-based compost in full light. Water freely in the growing season and sparingly in winter. Height will be significantl
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Indoor unheated (H2), Tender in frost (H3)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Ricinus communis (any variety)
Other names
Castor oil plant (any variety), Castor bean (any variety)
Genus
Ricinus Ricinus
Variety or Cultivar
R. communis (any variety) _ f you don't know the variety name of your Ricinus communis (Castor oil plant) you can add this plant to your lists to get care advice.
R. communis (any variety) are tender, erect, branching evergreen shrubs, often grown as annuals, with upright, stems bearing broadly ovate, deeply lobed, toothed, green, reddish-purple, or bronze-red leaves. Clusters of yellow-green or red flowers in summer are followed by spherical, reddish-brown to maroon capsules covered in soft spines in autumn.
Native to
Garden origin
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Branching, Erect
Toxicity
All parts of the plant, particularly the seeds, are extremely poisonous if ingested. Contact with the foliage may cause skin irritation.
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Yellow-green, Red in Summer
Foliage
Green, Bronze, Reddish-purple in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
General care
Pruning
Deadhead regularly. May need restrictive pruning if grown under glass.
Propagation
Soak seed for 24 hours prior to sowing. Sow at 21C in late spring.
Propagation methods
Seed
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Ricinus communis (any variety) (Castor oil plant (any variety)) will reach a height of 2m and a spread of 1m after 1 year.
Suggested uses
Architectural, Beds and borders, City, Conservatory, Containers, Greenhouse, Sub-Tropical, Wallside and trellises
Cultivation
Outdoors, grown in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Use stakes if planted in exposed sites. Alternatively, grow under glass in loam-based compost in full light. Water freely in the growing season and sparingly in winter. Height will be significantl
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Indoor unheated (H2), Tender in frost (H3)
USDA zones
Zone 11, Zone 10, Zone 9, Zone 8
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Indoor unheated (H2), Tender in frost (H3) | Tell us... |
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login