Is this castor bean Carmencita, yes or no?

I have 2 very nice castor beans which I grew from seeds that were supposed to be Carmencita, but the leaves aren't purple. Unless, the purple coloring varies depending on where it is planted, I don't think I have Carmencita.

What do you think? If this is not Carmencita, is there somebody out there that can share 1-2 seeds with me? Pretty please???? BTW, I don't have seeds on mine. Somebody told me they would grow all over the place, so I have been systematically cutting the pods off the plant.

This is such an exhuberant plant, I love it.

thanks for looking

Yohoo, anybody? I KNOW somebody out there grow this!

Hello Vosser.

Looks like you have some nice Caster Bean plants. I have grown them for years and have seeds if you would like some. Please don't forget the seed pods are a deadly posion both to human and animal. I harvest the seed pods while they are still quite green just to assure there is not a possibility of anything ingesting them. The heavier you water these guys the bigger they get.

I would be glad to send you some seeds.

thanks brazos queen. Do you know whether the ones I have are Carmencita, the ones with the all purple leaves? from my pic, I don't think I have Carmencita. that do you think?

Don't know much about the Carmencita Castor Bean, but here's a photo of a Red Castor Bean that I raise.




This message was edited Jul 16, 2006 2:09 PM

V ~ Am not familiar with variations but your post inspired me. I have many seeds given to me. Have 4 different types of castor bean and planted all 4 yesterday. I have seen a purple and not sure if I got seeds. Shall see what comes out. Thank you... pod

We grow them @ the Farm where I work. I didn't know there were different kinds. I had some seeds, soaked them for 2 days, planted last wk & they are already about 8-10" tall. I have a mole or moles that is/are eating my gingers. Supposedly, they will not come around castor bean plants. So, now, my ginger bed is lined with new plants.
Interested to find out your answer so I will know which one I have.

An old wives tale here is these seeds repell fireants though I can't see how.

Most of the good formulations for repelling moles/voles and other rodents have a castor oil base. would make sense, then, that your plant keeps them away.

Well, it was castor beans or spurge or so I read. I never heard of spurge & don't know where to find any! Good plant to put on my wish list! :~)

Smock ~ Castor bean seeds are reputed to repel mice, voles, gophers etc. As much as they like to munch these would be a good repellant. I think when they much, it kills them. I don't really think it would do fireants that way. Don't know about spurge, we might have to check that one out.