Maggie's Farm

We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.

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Saturday, September 2. 2017

A cool garden plant: the Castor plant

A friend has a patch of Castor plants, self-seeding in the garden. 5-6' tall, dramatic foliage. 


Shade plants, annuals in northern climates.  They are the source of castor oil, also of the poison ricin. However, many garden plants are poisonous (eg daffodils).


I have a shady spot for a patch of these. 

Posted by Bird Dog in Gardens, Plants, etc. at 08:09 | Comments (3) | Trackbacks (0)

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Castor oil can be a very powerful healing agent, especially in castor oil packs, and is often called Palma Christi or the Palms of Christ.
#1 Webutante (Link) on 2017-09-02 09:18 (Reply)
My mother planted castor beans on the edges of her large garden in north Missouri. Said to keep out moles. Seemed to work.
#1.1 jeff taylor on 2017-09-02 09:54 (Reply)
Planted dozens this year, three different varieties (SE Mass). The ones in shade didn't grow well at all. Planted two (Giant Green) in tortuous full sun--one looks as wimpy as the shaded plants; the one right next to it looks awesome although only a couple feet tall. Consider yourself warned.
#2 Gene on 2017-09-02 22:39 (Reply)

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