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Ricinus communis, the castorbean or castor-oil-plant, is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. It is the sole species in the monotypic genus, Ricinus, and subtribe, Ricininae. Common name: castor bean .Bloom time: June to October . Height: 6.00 to 10.00 feet . Difficulty level: easy to grow . Planting & Care - Before you plant, be sure that you choose varieties proven in your climate. When in doubt, All-America Rose Selections winners are good bets. Or check with your local nursery.If you order plants from a mail-order company, order early, in January or February (March at the latest). Sunlight: full sun Soil: well-drained soil Water: dry to medium Temprature: 10-18°C Fertilizer: Apply any organic fertilizer Care: Also, select a site that gets full sun. For dependable blooms, plants need six to eight hours of direct sunlight a day. If it’s too shady, the stems will attempt to lean towards the sun or get spindly and fall over. Most of the popular varieties prefer acidic to neutral soil, but some are lime-tolerant or prefer alkaline soils. Care: Plants love water—but don’t drown them. That is, they don’t like to sit in water, and they’ll die if the soil is too wet in winter. The ideal soil is rich and loose, with good drainage. One of the worst mistakes you can make is to not provide adequate drainage. Use mulch. Special Feature: Shrubby annual. Specimen. Containers. Use Medicinal use: Ricinus communis, the castorbean or castor-oil-plant, is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. The seed also contains ricin, a water-soluble toxin, which is also present in lower concentrations throughout the plant.