Castor Bean (Ricinus communis)

 

The bright red found in the towering caster bean plant is not due to the flowers (which are an insignificant greenish-yellow), but rather in the large spiny reddish seed pods. Castor bean seed pods are very pretty to look at, but be aware that the seeds are very toxic—this is the plant from which the highly poisonous ricin powder, famous for being used in terrorist attacks, is derived.

Notoriety aside, caster bean is an important crop and can create an interesting accent in a garden that is carefully supervised. Visitors will be quite curious about these unique plant, towering 6 to 12 feet tall with enormous glossy leaves. But these are not plants to grow where curious children play.