Castor Oil plant, keep or get rid?

Im replanting one of my borders and I can't decide whether to keep or get rid of a caster oil plant (at least I thinks that's its name?).

It's an east facing border and is shaded by the oversized Scotts pine in my neighbours garden. Sometimes I think the plant looks ok with its large leaves, other times I think it looks bland and boring and I could have something nicer in its place.

Any opinions?

Plant is top right of photo..

 

I like it.

 

To me a castor oil plant is Ricinus a half hardy annual grown for its foliage, I always have a couple with red/bronze foliage planted out.
The plant in your picture appears to be what I know as Fatsia japonica. If you like it keep it, personally I can't stand the things and the variegated ones are worse.

 

I think you're right, it must be a Fatsia japonica, thanks.

 

Ricinus is castor bean, not oil. This is why latin names are important, too many plants with same/similar common names

 

It looks quite happy there. You could perhaps remove some of the lower leaves/stems to give it a better shape. They are evergreen which is why I like them for winter interest.

 

I've always known ricinus as the castor oil plant and Fatsia as the False castor oil plant.
But we all know what it is by the picture.

I like them, any thing with largish shiney evergreen leaves is bonus in our winters.

 

I know there are lots of people that probably think they are a common plant that non gardeners like and they wouldn't be seen dead with one in their garden, but I quite like them (although i agree with Nigel, the variegated ones are hideous). We have one right next to the house in a north facing aspect and it just provides a nice backdrop all through the year. They aren't especially magnificent but they are reliable and a perminent presence.

If you like it keep it.

 

I like them and think they give good architectural structure all year round. Not every plant can be the star of the show, they give a good backdrop for those seasonal performers

 

I would keep it. It looks healthy, and you might find it difficult to get something else established in the shade of the neighbour's tree (possibly in the root zone of the tree as well).