Hey 'gg', I have saved a link or two for Canadian suppliers of the variety I want (New Zealand Purple). (I do occasionally see the actual plants in a garden centre or two but rarely the dark foliage variety and usually later than I would like and so that is why I am going the seed route).

They really are dramatic plants! Here is a link that gives good info, including how to grow. New Zealand Purple

Excellent @peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada...lots of good info.

It was bugging me that I knew I had CB in the garden at least once in the past but I was having difficulty finding any pics. But just found it...from August 2019:

I grew it years ago. Very pretty. It's a good idea to store your seeds in a child proof medicine bottle though. Lots of plants are toxic but that one is more than most.

Thanks @christinmk z5b eastern WA, there haven't been any kids in this house for some years now. (If there were I wouldn't even grow the plant let alone have seeds. Id probably shovel prune all our Monkshood also).

I’ve had this plant on my list to grow, and cannot find at garden centers in PNW so will try from seed. Fingers crossed!

Love that leaf color, rouge21!

You probably can't find it in the garden centers because it's a poisonous plant. Most garden centers probably don't want to risk the litigation potential if a very sick or dead pet or child happens. Or worse, like the idiot that went to jail this year for producing ricin from his castor bean plants, or the cell in India distilling ricin for a terror plot.

"You probably can't find it in the garden centers because it's a poisonous plant."

If that were truly the case, then garden centers/nurseries would not be selling 80% of the plants they typically carry!! A great many common garden plants are toxic to some degree and a fair number - like ricinus, taxus or aconitum - more toxic than most. But they are still offered and sold with impunity.

Looks like Walmart carries the seeds?!

And speaking of seeds, I was able to pick up a packet this afternoon:

Do you mind sharing where you ordered your seeds?

@Jj J, I actually picked it up at a nearby brick and mortar store but unless you live in Canada it wont be practical obtaining it this way.

I think you made out very well, carmencita is my favorite variety as it's red seed pods almost glow against the dark foliage. It's been a few years and today with that usual snowy-garden inspired dreaming I'm 100% sure I'll be joining you with a few plants next year! -until February hits and all the plans will change again ;)

I've had the best luck starting them between damp paper towels in a plastic baggie and then once you see germination pot them up. They grow fast, unless you have an excellent indoor setup I would start them just two or so weeks before you want to put them outside, so you're really just germinating them inside and then putting them out as soon as they sprout.

Here's a US source but they're not in stock yet. Hayefield seed

lol@rouge21, I often wish I lived in Canada for a lot of reasons, but am only as close as Washington state

I'm 100% sure I'll be joining you with a few plants next year!

@katob Z6ish, NE Pa, looking forward to having some company :)

(So you dont recall first soaking the seed(s) overnight?)

The Ontario Rock Garden Society has an extensive list of germination info on most every kind of seed. Link to ONGS germination guide enter "ricinus' in the search and you'll find very detailed info on germinating Castor Beans.

I always enjoy reading how fellow houzz members do gardening "stuff" successfully..

The Ontario Rock Garden Society has an extensive

Of which I am a member...I will take a look.

Oh I'm far too lazy for much special treatment regarding seeds, so that's a no on any pre-soaking. Just fold them up in a damp paper towel, put inside a ziplock, and sit it someplace warm for a few days.

Ok maybe I lied, cannas are something I soak, but they sit in water completely for a few days until they begin to sprout and once that happens they go into dirt, so it's a little more than a 24hr soak.

That looks like a great resource for seed starting info. Here are two others, the first is just an interesting, simple read on the science of seed starting while the other is an actual reference for the work of Dr Deno on seed starting. His three booklets used to be available through links on the USDA website but I can't find them anymore, so this is just the one.

Something interesting to look at during these longest nights of the year ;)

Talking to Dr Deno

Dr Deno's first booklet

I'm 100% sure I'll be joining you with a few plants next year!

Dont forget @katob Z6ish, NE Pa! :)

I scored a couple of seeds with a nail file and soaked them overnight and now finished potting them up in a couple of pots. Fingers crossed.

Your turn @katob Z6ish, NE Pa ;)

I'm trying castor bean from seed this season too. I soaked five seeds for about 18 hours and planted in individual pots. Four have germinated and have "loop" sprouts. The fifth might be a dud. There were only 9 seeds in the packet, I'll plant the remaining 4 in a week or two. It is a red variety, can't find the name right now though.  

So do you recall about how many days it took till germination....a week? Two weeks?

Gosh I'm behind already!? Happy germinating, I will probably give it another few weeks before I start mine. My care of potted seedlings is very questionable so the less time on the windowsill the better... unless this season heats up quickly then it's all seeds on deck!

You aint behind @katob Z6ish, NE Pa. I wanted to start two pots now and if I see no sign of life in the next...10 days, it gives me time to plant a few more seeds.

then it's all seeds on deck

What a clever turn of phrase :)

rouge21 - I think the first seed germinated in 8 or 9 days, the others a couple days later, & one by one. Fifth has still not germinated.

Two seeds were planted and luckily both have germinated:

They look great! They're fun seedlings to grow, not like some things which just sit there doing nothing for weeks. I feel the pressure now, I'll start a few this week ;)

They do look great!

I have no indoor facilities for starting seeds, no heat mats, no lights, so I'm just doing my best bringing my seedlings out and back inside when necessary. I've learned they really hate the cold. When the temperature dips to the mid 40sF they droop over sideways and look like they're done for, but recover with warmer temps. Mine haven't grown as quickly as yours under this regime but they still look good. I have 4 more seeds to plant, I expect they'll grow much more quickly now with warmer temps. Supposed to be 92F today here in Portland, yikes.

Thank you @katob Z6ish, NE Pa. I am only growing two plants. I am hoping to put one in a container and one directly in the garden.

But what you say about growing these plants from seed is dead on ie one sees progress quite quickly and unlike the speck of nothing tomato seeds, Castor Bean seeds are nice and big...way easy for me to see!

Thank you @artinnaturez8b. I have very minimal grow lights and no heat mats. I only start some tomatoes and just a few annuals.

They are starting to now 'take off' now that there is consistent sun and heat. This one has flowers now.

Anyone else here have a CB or two in the garden?

Looking good rouge! I will eventually have 7 plants in the garden! I bought a packet of 9 seeds this spring at cornellfarms.com here in Portland. It is a "red" called 'Impala'. Three of the first five that I started in pots are now in the garden & growing well. I planted the remaining four seeds, also in pots but much later, and they're also doing well, but I haven't planted them in the garden. They get so large, which I love, but finding appropriate locations for them is a challenge. I'll try to post photos but Houzz/Gardenweb has been a disaster for me lately, both on a browser and the app. Trying to post photos, (after being easy for about one year), is now consistently failing.

I will eventually have 7 plants in the garden!

Ay caramba @artinnaturez8b! As such large plants you must have a wonderfully large property. Please post pictures when you can.

lolill have to order some seeds next year, the plants are looking great!

Here are my two largest 'Impala' in the ground.

Thanks so much for the pics! They both look so healthy.

(I notice that you have wire "mesh" around these two exemplars. I have each of mine staked because of wind but I dont recall any animals ever favouring these way poisionous plants)

rouge - In this case the "animals" I have to worry about are named Kizzie and Dune, my two Mini Aussies! They crash into everything while playing, eat my organic fertilizer and Dune pees on everything!

But, I also battle introduced, non-native, invasive Eastern Gray Squirrels that are the spawn of hell. They have destroyed countless little plants and have taken a bite out nearly every one of my young tree trunks. You are right though, nothing touches the deadly Ricinus!

I saw the email alerts come through and the guilt finally pushed me enough to get a few seeds started! A little behind now, but they went into damp paper towels a coupke days ago and the sprouted ones will go into soil this evening. thanks for the push! not much to look at yet ;)

Excellent @katob Z6ish, NE Pa!

If you remember try to take note of when you actually plant it outside as I am curious as to how big it can get given that you might not be putting a germinated seed in the ground until (early?) July.

It is growing by leaps and bounds these days:

lol ice color story with the burgundy acer and the pink flowers (Rodgers’s?) behind it!

The guess was rodgersia. A word Siri apparently does not know.

I knew exactly what you (and Siri) meant! :)

One of the two we have..today:

I am curious @artinnaturez8b how yours are looking these days.

Hi rouge - Mine are growing like crazy. I'll post photos tomorrow or Tuesday!

All of my Cannas "exploded" while we were away for the 4th....avoiding actual explosions.

The back garden is looking exceedingly tropical!

Kizzie and Dune, my two Mini Aussies! They crash into everything

2 mini aussies....they must keep you so busy!

Photos from today. Once again, apologies for the harsh lighting.

Tallest are 5'. I'm growing them for the dramatic foliage but the flowers are pretty striking as well.