These photos were taken August 10, 2014. Castor Bean (Ricinus communis) was growing tall and strong. The top of the plant was 5 feet high. Yes, I do understand this plant is toxic.
August 10, 2014 | 5 ft tall
I remember that my mother grew some of these on the farm in Illinois when I was a kid. Their height of 10 – 12 feet was very impressive to a small boy.
Two inch wide stalk
Some of the leaves are 2 feet wide. I like their pronounced vein structure. They are casting shade on the smaller pepper plants below.
Leaves are at least 2 ft wide
I was a skinny little kid. Mom was concerned that I was not eating enough. The doctor advised her to give me a daily large spoonful of castor oil just before the main meal. It turned out to be good medicine. It tasted so bad, I decided food was a better alternative. Very clever advice, doc. Did you know that the cartoon characters, Tom and Jerry, included awful tasting castor oil in one of their cartoons.
More details can be found at this link. Updates to growth progress will come later.
Our View From Iowa 
Reblogged this on JAR Blog….
Do you remember when we got the plant shown here? It was at the Firefighters’ breakfast in Solon in May. It was in a small pot then. Very impressive growth!
I do. It was only a foot tall, kind of spindly. I wonder how big it will end up.
Most plants are worth the soil and air they use but, although toxic, these are beauties to have around and the textures in the leaves are fantastic and deserving of much study.
The plant is really impressive in how big and strong it is. There are ants that are on it most of the time. I hope they don’t become toxic monster ants and eat us out of house and home.
Beautiful plant, almost tropical looking. I like the purple accents and stems. Definitely worth growing in your yard, and I’ll be interested to see what it grows into, the flowers and seed pods. Nice project!
Thanks. Today, I took a picture of the flower bud stem rising up at the top. It will be included in an update later.
It is kind of exciting to watch it week to week.
Just stopping to say “hi.” We’re always glad to see you.
You often show things I remember from my Iowa days, but this is a new one for me. There are several tropical landscape plants here that attain this kind of size, but I really do like the leaves on this plant. It’s a beauty. Actually, the color of the stems, and the veining of the leaves, reminds me of rhubarb.
Yes, it does have a rhubarb-by look. In fact, there is a rhubarb plant not 3 ft from it in the shade. Maybe they will cross breed and make an alien plant worthy of the best scifi thriller. I’d better keep the video camera ready.
I’ll keep the popcorn handy!
I am not getting very close to it, all telephoto shots will be used. Just sayin’.
What an interesting plant. I love the large leaves! I can’t help but be reminded, though, of the ‘rice and bean’ (ricin bean) episodes of Breaking Bad. 🙂
That must have been tasty. I like rice-n-beans.
I do remember reading this earlier post and never commented on the fact that I thought your doc was brilliant! 😀
Yes. He was a good one. He had an office above a store in the small town. And, he would make a house call if needed.
Thanks. 🙂
We had a doc who wouldn’t make house calls but often let us come to her house for off hours visits. Miss that!