skip to main content

Ricinus (Castor Oil Bean) 'Carmencita' - leaves should be red?

18 years ago

I thought this variety is supposed to have maroon-colored foliage, but my seedlings have green leaves. The stems have a touch of red, but the leaves are all green. They are about 6" tall now, and do not appear to be getting any darker in color.

Any idea if it is the lack of sunlight here in New England (we are in the middle of monsoon season) or were these seeds mis-labeled? I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks,

Wendy

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

abq_bob
18 years ago
My guess would be that they need more time, light, or heat. But I've also had some of these not come true from seed, just bearing green leaves, so that could be the problem too. I would give it time and see what they do. This season, mine didn't get red leaves until their 3rd or 4th set of leaves and those were a nice, deep dark red. Prior to that the leaves were as you describe, green with red stems.
ornata
18 years ago
Mine are only slightly bronzy, rather than the rich reddish-brown I was hoping for. Also, Ricinus sanguineus, which promised blood-red leaves, have plain green leaves! It's really disappointing. The 'New Zealand Purple' haven't let me down - they're a rich maroon colour (though maybe not quite the "metallic purple" promised by the seed catalogues). They're the slowest growers, though. My seed this year was from JL Hudson in California. Last year I got seed of 'Carmencita' from Thompson & Morgan, and they turned out with plain green leaves (although new growth was bronzy) and red stems - possibly 'Impala'?. Nice enough, but not what I had ordered. There does seem to be a lot of confusion (and possibly subjectivity) in the descriptions of Ricinus varieties.
Related Discussions
castor beans flowering
Q
Comments (6)
If someone tells you to use a fertilizer with at least "6 (%) for N", they don't know much about fertilizing plants. It's not the numbers that are important, it's the RATIO of the numbers to each other. If you had a soluble 10-10-10 fertilizer and a soluble 20-20-20, which is better? As far as NPK goes, you might as well consider them the same. The reason I say this is: If you read the dilution instructions carefully, you'll see the labels direct you to use half as much 20-20-20 in your fertilizer solution as 10-10-10. That way, you come up with a solution with TDS (total dissolved solids) and EC (electrical conductivity) that are equal and consistent with most manufacturer's recommended concentration. What is MORE important is the RATIO of elements to each other in the blend. We almost always supply fertilizer based on N needs, so if you're using a shotgun approach (no soil test) it makes good sense to supply nutrients in as close to the same ratio as plants use them. The closest ratio is any 3:1:2 RATIO, for all but a very few plants. Plants use 6X more N than P, and about 1.5X more N than K, so why use a 1:1:1 fertilizer like 20-20-20 that supplies more P and K than the plant could ever use, based on N usage? For almost all plants, when you haven't had a soil test & know specifically what your soil lacks, or for container plantings, a 3:1:2 ratio like 24-8-16, 12-4-8, or 9-3-6 is a very good choice. It's silly to suggest a fertilizer with "at least 6% N" because (if you could buy it) a fertilizer with 3-1-2 NPK will end up delivering the same amount of N in each application because you use more. BTW - I don't think your issue is directly related to fertilizer, but to your soil. It appears to be needing organic matter badly. You might wish to consider starting a BIG compost pile, or at least mulching heavily so the soil critters can till in the organic matter for you. Mid-August in Mid-Michigan with a month's worth of growth until first expected frost: PS: There are lots of varieties of castor beans. You may have one of the 'Carmancitas' or 'Gibsonii', both of which are diminutive compared to the species plants in the pic. Al
...See More
Castor Oil Bean Plants - Growing Season
Q
Comments (22)
While living in Calexico, CA, in the Sonoran desert, I had a friend that had a very exotic looking plant in his backyard - wanted same. Learned that it was a castor bean plant, took some seeds and planted in my yard. Later yielded many, many seeds. It that area my first plant grew over nine feet, was more beautiful the first year but always nice. No frost, lasted forever. The following is from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Has anyone ever died after being exposed to ricin? "Yes, several deaths have resulted after a victim was injected with ricin. People have been poisoned with ricin after eating castor beans, but most cases of eating castor beans do not result in poisoning, because it is difficult to release the ricin from castor beans. Also, ricin is not as well absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract when compared to injection or inhalation." Am not that worried about the swallowing of castor beans but would be careful around children. Have you ever seen a report of a person dying as a result of ingesting a castor bean? Neither have I. I brought some beans with me to WA, couldn't find them so purchased some on the Internet. No luck so far in starting these. Every bean I planted in southern CA sprouted. Someone asked why plant these? They are a very attractive tropical looking plant. Many plants are poisonous, even the Washington state flower - the rhododendron. The oleander growing en-mass in freeway dividers, etc., in southern CA. Take care...
...See More
What will happen to castor bean seeds?
Q
Comments (5)
Thanks, Seedmama. That's kind of what I was thinking. I cut down the plants today. I couldn't use full sized ones in this spot, but thanks for the offer. I went out to cut down those plants when the temp finally hit 32 degrees. I ended up spending about an hour and a half, cutting down and yanking the last few annuals, mulching the last 2 small areas with leaves, messing with the compost, collecting the leftover plant stakes, sprinklers, hose nozzles, all the sundries. They're in my garage, after I thaw I'll organize stuff a bit for winter storage. Karen
...See More
Castor bean plant
Q
Comments (51)
I too would like to know how and when to safely transplant young castor bean plants that I am starting from seeds from last year's plant. I have soaked and planted 8 seeds in one large pot. Also...can I harvest the pods before they burst so I don't have to look for them all over the place? If so when do I know its time before they burst? I would like to put them in a plastic bag so they will burst in there. Lastly....how long can I keep the seeds? I still have many seeds left from last year and would like to save them. Thanks Terri
...See More
rusty_blackhaw
18 years ago
I have not had the problem of 'Carmencita' seed growing something else - but if plants are in full sun and have produced several sets of leaves without the bronze-purple color, it's time to request a refund or replacement.
Vera_EWASH
18 years ago
My castor bean seedlings I started indoors and transplanted outdoors in late April had green leaves and red stems and the warmer it gets the redder the leaves are turning...the ones I direct sowed started coming up in the last 2 weeks and their leaves were red from the get-go. I have no idea which one I have, but got them in trade.
I have heard they don't mind the extra moisture just as long as the soil drains well.

Vera
wendy2
Original Author
18 years ago
Hi Everyone-

Thanks for the replies. Here in Mass. we have not had a lot of sunlight or warmth in the past month, so that probably explains it. I'll give it a little longer.

Ornata, that 'New Zealand Purple' sounds great, one to try for next year.

Thanks again for your help!

-Wendy
shapiro
18 years ago
I have the impression that the "real" colour will not develop until the plants are exposed to lots of sunlight. This is true of many plants. It's as though the plant "needs" to be green-ish to grow indoors or outdoors when it is very cloudy, only when there's lots of sun does the plant have the "luxury" of being able to put out leaves which are red and therefore, less chorophyll. Am I making this up - the idea that the variation in leaf colour is only attainable under optimum conditions?
ornata
18 years ago
Oops! If that's the case, then mine are probably doomed to stay rather green, given the lower light levels and usually disappointing summers we get in the UK (although 2 years ago it was a scorcher, and we've been promised a hot August this year). Mind you, I'm growing other "red" or dark-leaf plants, such as Hibiscus acetosella, on which the red/maroon colouring is very pronounced already.
angelfairy
18 years ago
Castor beans may come up in many different colors since the mother plant may have been pollinated by wasps (favorite pollinators of castor beans I've found the past 40 years) from other colored castor bean plants in your area. Unless the plants are pollinated by another "red" or "pink" plant it's a crap shoot. Best bet? Plant many seeds from different sources the pollinate yourself once they start flowering and make sure you sleeve the flowers after doing so...don't want any stay pollin messing up your hard work.
benita383
17 years ago
Am having good luck with my castor bean "Carmencitas." They're about 4' tall with big, bronze leaves on red stems. They get about 2 hours of full sun in the afternoon and I give them lots of water & fertilize now & then.

I'm getting curious about how the seeds develop. They are producing brownish leaves with tiny little beads edging the leaves. When do the flowers? appear. Any pictures?
Crazy_Gardener
17 years ago
This is how the seed heads will look like....

Mine are just starting to set flowers, but I can never collect viable seeds since the frost usually gets them before they mature.

Sharon

Here is a link that might be useful: seed heads
benita383
17 years ago
Sorry you can't collect seeds up there in Canada, Sharon, "crazy gardener." I hope I have luck here in So. Wisconsin.
vera_eastern_wa
17 years ago
Mine are really a more maroon/red this year and much darker than last year. I planted them in a different location with all day sun and they have grown much bigger leaves and taller with lots of water. I still planted 2 in the origial location and the differences are so blatant :D

Vera

Related Stories

EDIBLE GARDENS Great Design Plant: Roselle Tantalizes With Beauty and Flavor

By Steve Asbell

Call it a fruit or a flower or a sweet vegetable. This hibiscus is so lovely, all that matters is calling it forth in your garden

Sponsored

Peabody Landscape Group

8 Reviews

Franklin County's Reliable Landscape Design & Contracting

More Discussions

What do white stripes on red camellia blossoms indicate?

4

Has anyone tried freezing seeds in ice?

9

Would like to keep mulleins

2

Suggestions for low growing, easy to sow annual in zone 7A

6

Not what I ordered?

3