Ricinus Communis

When visiting a garden a month or so ago, I spotted a manificant plant, about 5 foot tall, deep reddish-bronze leaves with bright red spikey seed pods. There was nobody available to ask, but after pouring through my plant books, I believe this plant is ricinus communis.
I am really keen to grow this plant, it is really special.
Does anyone have any knowledge or experience of it?
Unfortunately I didn't have a camera on me that day, so I won't really know until I try and see the results.

 

I think thats the Caster oil plant.
If it is the seeds are deadly and the rest of the plant is also poisonous should be kept away from Children and animals.
http://seeds.thompson-morgan.com/uk/en/product/7613/1

 

Yes I've got a few, they are highly posionous I had to order my seeds from T&M you get 6 in a pack they look like spotty red kidney beans. This year I'll be able to collect my own seeds though, and I shall leave one plant outside to see if it survives the winter, they are supposed to be treated as an annual in this country, but in their native they survive, the other plants I will bin when they have finished, that's unless they survive!

 

Here's the details Flowerchild. And you can even buy it on eBay.

castor oil plant

In fact, you've converted me. I've ordered some.

 

Hi, flowerchild. To be honest, not sure they would survive there as they grow wild here.

I sent some rootings to Banana Man and Honey Bee earlier this year so they may be able to advise also on how things are going. After winter will tell.

All summer they have been "dead" twigs here and are now coming into their glory ... here is one I photographed a year ago on the beach, end October (I guess it's at least six foot tall, ten plus wide) ...



Must say, it's got to get into action because when I was there two week ago it was a bit pathetic looking. :eek:

Good luck with yours, John, should have asked me first.

[ 03. October 2007, 07:14 PM: Message edited by: Lady of Leisure ]

 

Flowerchild,here is some pics of my plants this year, the variety is "Zansi Palm", its not grown as large as some years as its not been as warm as it might have been.
The largest variety I've ever grown was "zansibarensis" they grew to at least seven or eight feet.
"Gibsonii", as I recall was smaller and mostly green.
They come in the bronze coloured types and the green leaved, most times you get a mix of leaf colours.

LoL, whats that "grass" to the left of the agave in your picture.

 

Should add that I have never found them to be hardy around here, rot could well be the big problem, and they are usually far too big to pot up at the end of the season.

 

Lovely pics, pete.

This sounds silly, I know, but this is me ... I don't know ... it's call Canas here (canes) ... wild Bamboo, grows everywhere to enormous heights, strangely enough, not just on riverbeds but in dry areas ... ie, like on the beach here, well away from the sea.

 

LoL, I have seen it in one or two places here this summer, up to ten feet high.
It looks really tropical, I'm not that well up on "grasses" if thats what it is, but I like that one.

 

It grows taller than ten feet here, pete. It seems to take heat / frost ... whatever Mother Earth gives it and just thrives. These are the things that you get your bamboo poles from.

I'm not the expert here but it's not a grass but a cane ... is there a difference?

I know you don't want/need anything, but if you want this, I'll find a tiny rooting for you if you'd like to have a go.

 

That would be nice LoL, I did intend trying to track it down to a nursery over here.
I dont think its a bamboo as I have a feeling it might die down over winter, or at least regrow from the ground next spring.
It has a sugar cane look.

 

I'll see what I can do.

I have to pass this "specimen" once a month at least. They are spectcular. They don't die in the frosts here.

 

Thank you.

 

Thankyou everyone, and the pictures are really stunning. Yes, that is the plant I saw, except the ones I saw were bright red. I think I will order some off Ebay as well, they're cheaper than anywhere else I've seen.
I've decided I want to try to grow some in the front garden, as my dogs aren't allowed in the front and I know the plants are poisonous.
If it works, I'll try some photos of them next summer! They looked beautiful next to the bright yellow Rudabeckia in the garden I visited.