Scientific Name:
Ricinus communis
Pronunciation:
RISS-ih-niss kum-YOU-niss
Common Name:
castor bean
Family Name:
Euphorbiaceae
Plant Type:
Annual (grown as)
Key ID Features:
Leaves alternate, orbicular, 15-45cm long and wide, palmate venation with 5-12 deep lobes, median lobe typically 10-20cm long x 2-5cm wide, margin coarsely dentate, petioles 5-20cm long; panicle-like inflorescence up to 15cm long with lower male and upper female flowers, reddish stigmas and or bracts; fruit a spiny capsule about 2cm wide.
Habit:
Upright
Form:
Vase
Texture:
Very coarse
Mature Height:
1.3 - 2.0m
Mature Spread:
0.6 - 1.0m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Europe
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 9: (-7 to -1 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Landscape Uses:
Summer interest (Caution: poisonous parts)
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple, Lobed
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Leathery, Heavily veined, Palmate venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Colour in Summer:
Green, Purple, Dark-red, Brown, Bronze, Nearly Black, Some varieties are dark reddish purple or bronze when young and the gradually turn dark green +/- a reddish tinge by maturity
Shapes:
Orbicular
Apices:
Rounded
Bases:
Peltate, Rounded
Margins:
Dentate, Palmately lobed, Serrate
Inflorescence Type:
Cyme, Panicle-like
Flower Morphology:
Monoecious plant
Number Of Petals:
0
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, Green, Pink, Red
Flower Time at Peak:
Jul, Aug
Fruit Type:
Schizocarp
Fruit Colour:
Green, Pink, Red, Brown
Fruiting Time:
Sep, Oct
Additional Info:
Showy, Mericarps (3) split open to release a single seed
Bark or Stem Colour:
Red
Maintenance:
Low
Other:
Wear gloves when handling
Pest Susceptibility:
Mites (Pest resistant, Disease resistant)
Course(s):
- HORT 2355
Location(s):
- (LTW) Langley Township Walk
- (NCA) Not Currently Available : needed