Castor Bean Plants: Growing and Harvesting Seeds

Castor Beans have long been grown as annual ornamental plants. The plants grow to towering heights in the late summer garden with spectacular dark green/burgundy 7-pointed leaves and  clusters of bright coral-red seed pods.  From a distance the seed pod clusters appear to be exotic flowers.  But on closer inspection, they are the plant’s spikey seed heads.  Aren’t they cool?

The castor bean plant was made famous most recently during the popular Breaking Bad TV series starring chemistry-teacher-turned-meth-dealer Walter White.  Why, do you ask?  Well the castor bean plant is known by its latin name, Ricinus communis.  The water soluble, highly toxic poison “ricin” is naturally derived from the plant’s seeds.  A dose of purified ricin the size of a few grains of table salt is enough to kill an adult human, hence why it made an appearance on Breaking Bad.  Ricin is also the mysterious powdery white substance often mailed to enemies by vindictive evil persons.  But I digress from the plant’s good features.

The castor bean is also known as the castor oil plant and is a member of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae.  Its seed is the castor bean which, despite its name and appearance, is not a true bean.  The castor bean is composed of 40-60% oil and  is the source of common castor oil.

The large oval bean-like seeds are highly poisonous and bear characteristic brownish mottling.  Accidentally swallowing a seed is not likely to harm you as the toxin is not concentrated nor purified and will be deactivated by stomach acid.  At the end of the growing season, the seed pods will begin to dry and lose their red coloration. The capsule will turn greenish-grey, acquire vertical stripes as it swells and prepares to split open into 3 sections, ejecting its seeds.  The always evolving changes in the seed pods enhance the plant’s appeal in the fall garden.  You can let the plant self-seed directly in your garden.  Or the seeds can be harvested at this stage and stored in a dry, dark place over the winter and planted directly in the soil in spring, after the danger of frost has past.  The plant thrives best in full sun locations.

Who knew such gorgeous seeds could be so dangerous?  As long as the seed is not ingested, you can enjoy all the beauty of this fascinating plant in your garden without worry.  It also makes for an intriguing discussion as it is a plant that will attract notice from its sheer imposing stature and fascinating seed pods. Then you can show off your dark side and bring Walt into the conversation!  Are you Breaking Bad in your garden?

“You clearly don’t know who you’re talking to, so let me clue you in. I am not in danger, Skyler. I AM the danger. A guy opens his door and gets shot, and you think that of me? No! I am the one who knocks.” Bryan Cranston as Walter White in Breaking Bad

Castor bean pods in a floral arrangement by Chrissy Piombino Bennett

For more information on this plant, please visit the source of this article, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricinus