General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Tree
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Plant Height: 5 to 15 feet (1.5-4.6m)
Plant Spread: 2 to 8 feet (.6-2.4m)
Leaves: Unusual foliage color
Evergreen
Fruit: Showy
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Green
Red
Other: yellow/green
Flower Time: Summer
Late summer or early fall
Fall
Uses: Will Naturalize
Suitable as Annual
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Butterflies
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Rabbit Resistant
Toxicity: Leaves are poisonous
Roots are poisonous
Fruit is poisonous
Other: All parts of plant are toxic. Seeds highly toxic.
Propagation: Seeds: Self fertile
Scarify seeds: Soak for 24 hours
Sow in situ
Start indoors
Can handle transplanting
Pollinators: Wind
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Miscellaneous: Monoecious

Image
Common names
  • Castor Bean
  • Caster Oil Plant
  • Mole Bean
  • Higuera Infernal

Photo Gallery
Location: Caribou Maine
Date: August 2018

Date: April 2019
Location: Caribou Maine
Date: July 2018
Location: Caribou Maine
Date: March 2018
Location: z5 MA, my garden
Date: 2011-10-03
9 to 10 feet in full sun. Direct sowed May 27.
Location: Caribou Maine
Date: July 2018
Location: z6a MA, My Garden
Date: 2012-08-28
Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2017-08-31
Poison Castor Bean 001
Location: Caribou Maine
Date: July 2018
Location: Caribou Maine
Date: April 2018

Date: 2016-03-17
Location: z5 MA
Date: 2011-10-03
Location: My Yard
Date: 2015-08-02
Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania
Date: 2015-06-16
young plant, collecting rainwater

Courtesy Outsidepride
  • Uploaded by vic
Location: z5 MA, my garden
Date: 2011-10-03
Some frost damage
Location: z6a MA, My Garden
Date: 2011-09-13
After being flattened by high wind gusts. The Colocasia is over 6

Date: 2015-08-26

Date: 2015-08-26

Date: April 2019

 Photo Courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Used with permissi
  • Uploaded by Joy
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Comments:
  • Posted by eclayne (Pioneer Valley south, MA, USA - Zone 6a) on Oct 3, 2011 10:11 PM concerning plant:
    Grown in full sun 'Impala' is fuller with better color. Fun to watch grow, almost before your eyes. Leaves grow to about 24" across.
    I purchased a pack of seeds, scarified and soaked for 24hrs. 6 of 9 germinated. Direct sowed, 1/4" deep, 3rd week of May. 5 of 6 grew. This falls crop, about 90 seeds, was suddenly ended by our October snow.

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