Annual. Colourful, unusual plant.
Castor oil plant can reach a height of 1-2 metres. Gives a tropical feel to any garden.
The glossy leaves are 15–45 cm long, long-stalked, alternate and palmate with 5–12 deep lobes with coarsely- toothed segments. Colour varies from dark green, sometimes with a reddish tinge, to dark reddish purple or bronze.
The stems and the spherical, spiny seed pods also vary in pigmentation. The pods are more showy than the flowers, the male flowers are yellowish-green with prominent creamy stamens and are carried in ovoid spikes up to 15 cm long; the female flowers, borne at the tips of the spikes, have prominent red stigmas. This variety, IMPALA, has red stems, copper red leaves, yellow flowers and attractive red seed pods!
ALL PARTS ARE POISONOUS!!!
Sow the Castor seeds (Castor beans some gardeners call them), inside in April, or outside from late May, 2-3 cm deep in individual pots, in compost. Keep inside, germination can be slow, soaking the seeds overnight can speed up germination, however it is not necessery.
Transplant into final position when 20-30 cm, prefers sunny position and rich soil.
Ideal feature plant for the border.
