Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Castor Bean

Ricinus communis

Typically in season from August to October in the northern hemisphere. Found in Disturbed ground.

Castor Bean (Ricinus communis)

Photo: no rights reserved, uploaded by 葉子 · iNaturalist

When Castor Bean is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak August to October. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in September

Where it grows

Castor Bean is usually found in Disturbed ground.

Take Castor Bean into the field

Open Castor Bean in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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Castor Bean: common questions

When is Castor Bean in season?

Castor Bean is generally in season from August to October in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Castor Bean grow?

Castor Bean is usually found in Disturbed ground.

Is Castor Bean safe to forage?

Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits