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BeddingShrubs

Ricinus communis 'New Zealand Black'

castor oil plant 'New Zealand Black'

'New Zealand Black' is a large, tender, evergreen shrub grown as an annual in temperate climates. It has large, dark red-purple, palmately lobed leaves and showy red female flower spikes in summer, followed by dark red fruits with soft spines

Synonyms

Ricinus 'New Zealand Purple'

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Ultimate height

1.5–2.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1 year

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Euphorbiaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: TOXIC if eaten, wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling TOXIC to pets if eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Ricinus is a fast-growing evergreen shrub, often grown as an annual, with large, palmately lobed leaves and dense spikes of small flowers, followed by prickly seed capsules
Name status: Unresolved

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in a peat-free, loam-based compost in full light. Water freely in growth and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly. Plant outdoors when all danger of frost has passed. Stake plants in exposed positions. Plants grown on poorer soils tend to produce flowers at the expense of foliage

Propagation

Propagate by seed, sowing in late spring. Soak seed for 24 hours and sow singly in pots with bottom heat

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Patio and container plants
Architectural
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Sub-tropical
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.