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Is this plant safe?

Jasmine5Jasmine5 Posts: 42

Just bought some seeds for RICINUS COMMUNIS 'RED GIANT' which are now about 2-3" Tall. A friend of mine told me about Ricin from these plants and how deadly it is. I am now concerned I am growing something that's not safe!  I have cats also and, although they are not plant chewers, they do like a good mooch around the garden. Any advice/help appreciated. 

Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,159

    I don't think the poisons jumps out at you. Half the garden is poisonous.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Jasmine5Jasmine5 Posts: 42

    I've read just don't let them flower or seed. The leaves (what I bought them for) are ok I believe. I know what you mean about other plants. I have foxgloves, lilies, ivy etc. image

  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 21,908

    Dr Crippen used it, apparently.image

    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 16,695

    The ricin is in the seeds.  Just don't eat the seeds. Castor oil is extracted after boiling which deactivates the ricin.

  • Tropical SamTropical Sam Posts: 1,488

    Yew seed is equally as poisonous and you would not eat those. There are plenty of much more poisonous and toxic plants in your garden, especially the phototoxic ones.

  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,286

    Odd that we can grow all these things, but try and stick a cannabis plant in the veg patch and there is hell to pay.

  • mikeymikey Posts: 3

    This absolutely stunning plant will in time grow into a tree in warmer countries. Please note that these seeds are extremely poisonous if eaten

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,053

    I've grown it for years, let it flower, set seed, gather the seed and plant them in following years and I'm still here to tell the tale.

    Devon.
  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 538

    Have grown it every year, its beautiful.  Grows as a large shrub in Tenerife.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,912

    Potato fruits and leaves are poisonous; rhubarb leaves are poisonous; cherry stones are poisonous ... the garden's full of poisonous plants image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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