Ricinus communis                                                                                    

RI-ki-nus kom-EW-nis    

Annual – Sun 
                                                      
Ht.  6’-15’ Spread 3’-4’      Spacing 6’-8’

HABIT:  Clusters of small white flowers, followed by prickly husks with shiny black seeds. Very large, tropical looking foliage.

CULTURE: Easy to grow in any soil, likes hot weather. Pinch off burr like seed capsules to prevent seed from maturing.

USES: Bold texture, tall and quick-growing, inexpensive screen.

PROBLEMS:  Seeds are highly poisonous. Foliage and stems are also toxic and can cause severe skin irritation.

The principle toxin of castor bean is ricin which is a lectin, also termed a toxalbumin. Ricin may comprise up to 3% of the seed weight. Toxalbumins are very toxic plant-derived compounds that combine carbohydrate and protein moieties or components. Ricin is water soluble and is not present in castor oil. Taken orally, ricin is readily absorbed from the stomach and intestine. Another phytotoxin in castor bean, ricinine, is reportedly goitrogenic, but the significance of this compound is not clearly established.