Because of its unique fatty acid make-up, there's truly no other oil quite like it. What Does Castor Oil Look Like information and articles on the topic from an authoritative and respected source. Q. I have a question about a plant that I find very intriguing: the Castor Bean Plant. Learn how to grow castor oil plant in this article. The evolution of castor and its relation to other species are currently being studied using modern genetic tools. Castor Bean plants are well suited for growing in large planters and can even be grown as a house plant if you have bright enough light. Ricinus plants are half hardy perennials that range from 90 cm to 1.8 m in height.. Castor was apparently coined by English traders who confused it with the oil of another shrub, Vitex agnus-castus, which the Spanish and Portuguese in Jamaica called "agno-casto." Care and growing castor beans is simple and easy. The Castor plant can grow on a vast range of soil types, as long as they are deep and have adequate water drainage. How to Grow Ricinus Plants Guide to Growing Castor Oil Plant, Castor Bean and Palma Christi. Growing castor beans is extremely easy. Look for seed pods that are beginning to split--these have seeds ready to harvest. Find a castor bean plant in the fall that is healthy and is producing seed pods. Ricinus communis, the castor bean or castor oil plant, is a species of perennial flowering plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. The seed pods are covered with dark red or purple hairs and look like they should contain round seeds about a half-inch in diameter. Presoaking. You only need to use about 4-6 percent in your recipe to see a difference. Castor oil is a colourless to very pale yellow liquid with a distinct taste and odor. Castor Oil plant profile. Winter star: Alan Titchmarsh's tips on growing false castor oil plant IF YOU want drama in November, plant a false castor oil plant. Castor oil is a vegetable oil pressed from castor beans. Planting Instructions for Castor Beans. In USDA planting zone 9 and above, castor bean plants grow as perennials that look like small trees. Presoaking your castor bean seeds rapidly swells the seed to encourage germination. Be warned, castor oil will speed up your trace. I understand the plant is very poisonous but it is beautiful and I would like to grow it. I planted it in a spot I thought it would like judging from the others I'd seen, and it has thrived right outside my back door. Castor plants like full sun and humid conditions. You may want to leave it out of recipes where you want extended time to swirl like a column swirl or even just a multi-layered soap. Castor, botanically known as Ricinus communis, is a herbaceous perennial plant. Although it is commonly known as the castor bean plant, the seed is really not a true bean and it is not related to the Bean or Legume Family (Fabaceae). It is the sole species in the monotypic genus, Ricinus, and subtribe, Ricininae. They are an erect plant that carry large lobed leaves; these may be red, bronze, green or purple in colour. The name probably comes from its use as a replacement for castoreum. ... which look like spotted ... pass unbroken castor bean seeds without incident as our gut does not digest or otherwise break the seed coat and expose the ricin The ideal soil is a well-drained, deep, loamy sand with a pH of approximately 6 that is moderately fertile, free of weeds, and has somewhat acidic conditions. Does the danger posed by castor bean plants frighten you? Growing the Poisonous Castor Bean. Its boiling point is 313 °C (595 °F) and its density is 961 kg/m 3. Their toxicity might be problematic for young children. Castor bean seeds start readily indoors and will grow very rapidly. If you're still determined to grow them, then lessen the danger by cutting off the flowers and disposing of them, thereby preventing seed formation. Growing Castor Bean Plants from Seed. To use this technique, place the seeds in a cup and cover them with warm water. I had seen a few in my neighborhood and finally tracked a plant down in nearby Ottsville, PA, thinking I'd hit the jackpot. Castor Bean seeds can be sown directly into the garden where they are to grow in the spring after all danger of frost has passed. Q: A friend of mine gave me some seeds of castor bean.