Ricin

We also find it in abundance as an ornamental plant here in North America.The castor oil plant is the host plant of the Common Castor butterflyAmong birds, it is a favorite food of the Tambourine Dove.In Brazil, the castor plants grow quite freely.

For this reason, they are not recommended for the home garden.Reportedly, if the tough husks are intact, the bean can pass through the digestive system intact without harming the person who swallowed it.

Do not place in areas where small children are present, as seeds are highly poisonous. A tropical plant that became the giant of my garden this year, sporting immense green leaves with decorative white ribbing and stout stems of green with a white bloom...

A Victorian favorite accent plant, often surrounded by caladiums and coleus. The toxin ricin is water-soluble and is therefore not partitioned into the oil. What You'll Grow Plant: Large, somewhat shrub-like, with colossal, palmately lobed purple leaves...

Also great in containers or as a border. Wear gloves when handling the plant, as contact of foliage with skin can cause skin irritation in some individuals. All parts of the plant are toxic if ingested.

Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral Fertilizer: Mix about 2-4" of compost into soil prior to planting if soil is not rich. Burnished chocolate leaves with red veins make for a bold tropical look in the garden.