Picture didn't post at first.

Agreed. Don’t let the dogs eat it.

Or the kids . .

Yes newhostalady Ricinus communis is very pretty, just be sure to read about it before planting. It would be an annual for you.

Thanks all. I realize now this is the second time I have seen and admired this plant. But I have looked it up now and see that it is a poisonous plant, especially the seeds! Now that is unfortunate! I think this kind of plant would be best planted in a more protected environment, like my backyard. Unfortunately I only have sun in my front yard. I guess I will just have to be on the lookout for a different interesting plant that loves full sun.

If you like check out Angelica. There are some really stunning varieties available.

And for something larger, Sambucus nigra has some nice purple leaves varieties all starting with the word “black”.

Is Acanthus mollis hardy where you are? That would be a nice big-leaved plant for you if so.

Hibiscus acetosella, aka rose mallow, should provide a very similar appearance with no concerns about toxicity :-) Would be considred an annual in your climate, as is the castor bean, but grows rapidly to a significant presence in the garden. And has some pretty dramatic large flowers as well as the bold, richly colored foliage.

The oh that's cool effect of the castor bean wears off if you grow it, and then it just looks like a large, hard, awkward out of place thing. Really doesn't blend very well.

Peren.all, are you talking about Angelica gigas, the biennial?

Macranthos, that Sambucus nigra is beautiful. Acanthus mollis may be OK for hardiness, but not sure of availability.

Gardengal48, there is a Hibiscus acetosella plant in my neighborhood. I never notice it until lose huge flowers appear and then make quite a statement.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

Yes A. gigas. If you liked the Sambucus but don't have room Actaea simplex 'Brunette', 'Hillside Black Beauty' or 'Black Negligee' would give you that dark foliage look in a perennial. It would go very well with your Hostas.

I was able to do a plant search and found that a nursery near me has:

Genus Cimicfuga, Species racemosa, Cultivar 'Brunette' or 'Hillside Black Beauty.'

I think these must be the ones? They are very pretty!

No 'Black Negligee'---maybe the nursery doesn't like the name? LOL!

Except that as indicated in the preceding post 'Brunette' etc. are forms of Actaea simplex and not A. racemosa.

Yes maybe they are prudes! More than likely it is simply because they are all so similar. I grow both 'Brunette' & 'Hillside Black Beauty' and they are difficult to tell apart. Please do let us know if you get one or both. They are tremendous plants.

Ok Embothrium. I think I got it. 'Brunette' is a form of Actea simplex and so are 'Hillside Black Beauty' or 'Black Negligee.' I can see now that the nursery has not named the plants properly then.

I will peren.all---let you know. I wish I could go and see them in the nursery NOW! So pretty!

Couldn't help myself---I grew a castor bean plant! I was amazed at the growth it put out as a seedling. I remember one day watching it and it changed every two hours!

I couldn't grow it to be very large, but nevertheless, the flower pods were very pretty.

I had to stake it so it wouldn't fall over.

Save your seed for the next year. My dog chewed one of my seeds and spit it out. He lived for another 10 years or so, so I guess chewing it up isn't as dangerous as swallowing it. I remember taking castor oil as a kid and it was awful tasting as I recall. I cannot remember why my mother gave it to me either - HAHA!

My last time I grew it was 4 years ago. Now after seeing this post, I want to try it again next year.

Tiny female flowers above the showy ovary.

The green type have very large leaves. The lens cap is either 67 or 72 mm (about 3")

The red form is smaller but more showy

Here is an article showing 9 different types of Ricinus.

https://www.homestratosphere.com/types-of-castor-bean-flowers/

I've had castor beans too, the red seed-pods are REALLY red.

There are a few red cultivars. The straight species is not so colourful.

I'm a bit confused. So there are actually red cultivars? And Beng, when you say the red seeds are really red, do you mean they are a solid red color? The seeds from this plant are spotted.

Floral, the "straight species" is what I have? Mind you, my plant doesn't get as much sun as it would like. I have to kind of chase the sun and move the pot to get more sun. But I love the shape of the leaves and those bright pods!

That's a lot of pretty seed pods Beng! Your plant may be similar to mine?

This is a picture of the plant I got the seeds from:

Ricinus communis is pretty variable in its appearance but often has bronzy red tones with new growth as well as sometimes being solidly green. There are also red or purple leaved cultivars - 'Impala', 'Gibsonii', 'Red Giant', 'Carmencita', 'New Zealand Purple'

Good grief, I guess we'll have cultivar weeds in a few minutes. I already refer to mine as ornamental.

I just looked up the other cultivars. I love them! I don't know where I would be able to get a hold of one of them. In fact, I've never seen any other ones except for the one that looks like mine.

You plant them from seeds. I have never seen started plants - of any variety - available in my area.

Yes, I guess we have to start them from seeds. I don't see anything special available on Amazon..ca. I suspect Amazon.com will have more variety, but that is not available to me. The New Zealand Purple is awesome!

newhostalady, I edited above -- should have said seed-pods. The seeds inside are striped black and light brown/gray.

Thank you beng for editing. I am thinking that the seed itself comes in different colors or mottling. That would be an indication of the type of castor bean plant that one would be growing? I believe I got two different packages of beans from my horticultural society. Both did not state the name of the particular castor bean plant. I found one of the original packages:

I did get some seeds from the plant I grew this year, but can't find them right now. Hopefully I will!

Just took this. Jubilee flowerbed in a local park.

Wow, floral, that's an impressive castor bean(s?). Oodles of seed-pods.

Wow, what a spot, Flora! What is in the foreground? Heliotrope?

Yes, Heliotrope.

Thank you very much.