Castor – Beautiful yet deadly
Word(ful) Wednesday
filed in gardening on Sep.16, 2009
Every year we plant a couple Castor Beans to get these big beautiful tropical looking plants. Right now they’re only about 6 feet tall but will grow to 7 or 8 feet in our climate. The largest leaves are nearly a 1 1/2 feet across.
They remind me of something out of Jurassic Park. 
Interesting Castor facts: Castor seeds are very poisonous. Farmers used to drop the seeds down rodent holes because of their toxicity.
Castor beans are one of the key ingredients in Castor Motor Oil.
The deadly poison Ricin is made from the castor bean. Which is a bit scary.
September 16th, 2009 on 2:16 am
Woah! What?! That is crazy! I never new that’s what castor oil was made of… Yeesh. There was a Ricin scare here in Vegas some time ago. Now I know where they come from. Crazy!!!
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September 16th, 2009 on 6:29 am
Now not only do you make me laugh in the morning I just got an education..lol.
That is very interesting.
September 16th, 2009 on 8:05 am
Sheila, a Castor plant wasn’t the first plant that cam to mind when I opened to your page… LOL! I guess it’s a little too pale for that. Crack up. Anyway, I didn’t know that (the Castor history). Cool info.
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September 16th, 2009 on 8:30 am
Wow, what a cool plant. I guess there’s no danger of them being poisonous to pets??
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sheila Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 8:37 am
Just to be safe, we keep them only in the front yard since the dogs are only allowed in the backyard with the fence.
September 16th, 2009 on 9:37 am
Wow! They are crazy plants — so cool. Never knew what Castor was, so you’ve enlightened me
BTW – I have to apologize b/c I read your posts everyday on my iPhone and never get to comment much…I still love you…have to get my tookus back over here more. Have a great one!
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September 16th, 2009 on 10:07 am
Never knew! I always like learning new things to share with others(makes us look smarter too, huh?) Thanks for giving me something to share with the family at the table tonight. VERY interesting…
September 16th, 2009 on 11:13 am
These are beautiful!
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September 16th, 2009 on 11:40 am
They definitely look like something out of the time of the dinosaurs! Very pretty though!
September 16th, 2009 on 4:19 pm
egads. I shan’t be going near them.
never heard of Ricin. Must Google.
THe house plant dieffenbachia is poisionous, I guess you knew that.
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September 16th, 2009 on 7:26 pm
That was so illuminating! I had no idea! They really are beautiful plants!
September 17th, 2009 on 8:55 am
oh WOW!!!!
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