Environmental Weeds in Sydney North

• Noxious Weeds
• Other Significant Environmental Weeds
• Weed Alerts

Weed control

• Hand removal techniques
• Biocontrol

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Castor Oil Plant

Botanical Name: Ricinus communis
Noxious Weed Category:
CLASS 4 in Sydney region except Blue Mountains, Camden and Wollondilly councils, and Hawkesbury River County Council


Photo: Ku-ring-gai Council


Photo: Ku-ring-gai Council

 
Special Note: The seeds of this plant are the EXTREMELY TOXIC and may cause an allergic skin reaction on contact and may be LETHAL if swallowed.

 

Description:
 Native to Africa, Castor Oil Plant is a tall shrub to 3m high common in waste areas.

The stems are red tinged and the leaves are large and lobed.

Reddish green, flowering in summer.

Reddish green spiny fruit capsule with toxic seed occurring in autumn.

Dispersal:
Seed explosion from capsule, water.

Impact on Bushland:
A problem on the north and central coast. It invades high disturbed areas in or near hind-dunes, roadsides and bushland.

Control:

Manual: This weed is both invasive to bushland and toxic. Due to the plant's invasive nature and the risk that it poses to human and animal health, the treatment to eradicate this weed must start immediately. Caution should be taken when attempting any control and removal of this weed.
  Wear protective clothing, gloves and eye protection before starting control work.
  Bag the seed heads
  Handpull or use a mattock. Dig out single plants and dispose of either in the general waste bin or by taking to the tip.
Chemical: Please contact your local control authority for advice on chemical control.

Similar Species:

Suggested Alternatives:

References: