Stunning Foliage

The castor bean plant boasts large, dramatic leaves that can reach impressive sizes, adding a tropical flair to your garden. The deep green or reddish-brown foliage creates a striking contrast against the creamy yellow flowers, making it an eye-catching centerpiece in any landscape.

Tall and Imposing

Growing up to 6 feet tall, castor bean plants make a bold statement in any garden. Their towering height provides excellent vertical interest and can serve as an effective backdrop for shorter plants, enhancing the overall design of your outdoor space.

Self-Sowing

Castor beans are known for their self-seeding ability, ensuring that these vibrant plants return year after year with minimal effort. This characteristic makes them an excellent choice for gardeners looking for low-maintenance options that still deliver stunning visual impact.

Versatile Plant

The castor bean seeds are not only stunning in the garden but are also valued for their use in producing castor bean oil. This versatile oil is known for its wide range of applications, from skincare to industrial uses, making them a practical and beautiful addition to your garden.

Castor Bean (Ricinus Communis Impala) - To add this unique tropical annual to your landscape, start Castor Bean seeds and be amazed at how fast this plant grows! Impala is tall and dramatic with huge copper-red leaves and clusters of creamy yellow blooms, followed by maroon pods. This evergreen tropical shrub can grow so fast that it can be used as a very large and dramatic annual in the garden. Castor Oil plants are remarkably architectural and can be used very effectively in the center of island beds or at the back of large borders.

Castor Bean seeds can be started indoors 6 - 8 weeks before the last frost date or directly outdoors after frost season has passed. It is recommended to soak the Ricinus seeds for 24 hours in water to help break the seed coat. Cover the flower seeds with 1/4 inch of soil and keep moist. Grow the plant in full sun and in soil that is rich and has been amended with organic matter. Care of the Impala Castor Bean plant would include staking the plant if needed, trimming the faded flowers to produce new blooms, and fertilizing every month (or adding a slow-release fertilizer at the time of planting). In the fall after the first frost, remove the plant and discard.

NOTE: All parts of the plant, including the seeds, are poisonous. Eating the seeds may be fatal. This plant is not recommended if you have small children. Again if you have children that naturally put things into their mouths, you probably should avoid this plant. If you do decide to grow it, educate your children about the dangers of this plant.