{"product_id":"castor-bean-seeds","title":"Castor Bean Seeds (Ricinus communis) – Castor Oil Plant\/Palma Christi, Fast-Growing Ornamental, Dramatic Tropical Foliage \u0026 Striking Seed Pods, Statement Plant for Borders \u0026 Privacy Screens","description":"\u003cp class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.375rem] font-bold\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003e10+ Seeds\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.375rem] font-bold\"\u003eCastor Bean — The Dramatic Tropical Statement Plant That Grows Eight Feet in One Summer\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eCastor bean is the plant that makes people stop walking and stare. The enormous palmate leaves... hand-shaped, up to three feet across, deep green or bronze-red depending on variety... create an instant jungle aesthetic. The striking seed pods emerge in summer, round and spiny, bright red or pink like tropical fruit made of fire. The plant grows with shocking speed, reaching 7 to 10 feet in a single warm season, turning a bare fence into a privacy screen or transforming a corner into an exotic focal point. It tolerates heat that other plants surrender to, never wilts, and produces drama without asking for much. Important note: seeds contain ricin, a serious toxin... remove seed pods before they mature and keep plants away from children and pets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr class=\"border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho Grows Castor Bean?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eGardeners who want dramatic height and structure fast. Florists seeking stage-worthy materials for arrangements and events. Designers creating tropical or exotic borders from scratch. Anyone needing a living privacy screen that fills space in weeks instead of years. And gardeners who appreciate bold gestures and aren't intimidated by powerful plants that demand respect.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr class=\"border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat This Plant Actually Is\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eRicinus communis\u003c\/em\u003e, a tender perennial shrub or small tree native to tropical Africa. Plants reach 7 to 10 feet in a single growing season in warm climates, with enormous palmately lobed leaves (5-11 pointed lobes), glossy texture, 1-3 feet across, ranging from green to bronze to burgundy depending on variety. Small yellowish-green flowers in tall spikes appear in summer, followed by the distinctive round, spiny seed capsules in shades of bright red, pink, or burgundy... each capsule about the size of a golf ball and more striking than any ornamental berry. Perennial in zones 9-11; grown as an annual everywhere else. Seed capsules contain three seeds; seeds contain ricin, a potent toxin requiring careful handling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr class=\"border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowing Castor Bean\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStarting Seed:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sow indoors 6 weeks before last frost or direct sow after soil reaches 75-85°F. Soak seeds 24 hours before planting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSowing:\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant ¼ inch deep. Germination takes 7-14 days in warm soil.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3-6 feet apart depending on final size desired. Wider spacing = more branching and pod production.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSunlight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun. More sun produces stronger color in foliage and pods.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tolerates many soil types but prefers fertile, well-drained soil. Will thrive in poor soils.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moderate water. Tolerates drought once established but thrives with regular moisture.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature:\u003c\/strong\u003e Loves heat. No frost tolerance. Dies at first freeze in cold climates.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePinching:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pinch the main growing tip around 2 feet tall to encourage multiple stems and more pods.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePod Production:\u003c\/strong\u003e Requires 140-180 days of warm temperatures for good seed pod production.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeed Removal:\u003c\/strong\u003e Remove seed capsules before they mature and split to prevent self-seeding and exposure to toxic seeds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr class=\"border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBefore You Close This Page\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eGrows 7-10 feet in a single summer. Enormous hand-shaped leaves in green or bronze-red. Striking red, pink, or burgundy spiny seed pods like tropical fruit. Fast enough to create privacy screens from bare fences. Tolerates heat and poor conditions. Perfect for tropical or exotic gardens. Seeds are toxic... remove pods before maturity and keep away from children and pets. Annual in cold zones, tender perennial in zones 9-11. The dramatic focal point that fills space in weeks.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"terramatergardens","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53860987011390,"sku":"11471","price":3.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/8836\/7166\/files\/candles-5515.png?v=1785804162","url":"https:\/\/www.terramatergardens.com\/products\/castor-bean-seeds","provider":"Terra Mater Gardens","version":"1.0","type":"link"}