Guide to growing Castor oil plant - Ricinus

Ricinus are half hardy perennials that range from 90cm to 1.8m in height.

They are an erect plant that carries large lobed leaves that may be red, bronze, green or purple in colour.

They bloom in the middle of summer when they carry clusters of red or green flowers.

They then produce attractive seed pods. Some common names for Ricinus include Castor Oil Plant, Castor Bean plant and Palma Christi.

How to grow Castor Oil Plant

It is best to start off Castor Oil plants indoors. First soak the Castor oil seeds for a day in warm water, then sow the seeds about 6mm deep into peat pots about six weeks before the last frost. The seeds should take about two or three weeks to germinate at 21 to 25 degrees Centigrade. The young Castor oil seedlings should then be transplanted outdoors a couple of weeks after the last frost. Ricinus species should be spaced from 70cm (small) to 1.5M (large) apart, and grown in a sunny part of the garden. For best results grow Castor oil plants in a rich loam of pH 6 to 7.

Caring for caster oil plants - Ricinus

Castor Oil Plants and other Ricinus species are easy to look after; they like a moist soil so water regularly; They are big plants so provide a stake and feed them regularly.