This is locally (Crete, Greece) known as a castoroil plant but I can't find the correct name. In cooler areas it dies back and regrows each year but in coastal areas it remains healthy and this on has new flowers, fruit and last years seedpods still on. About 7 foot tall. New plants grow very rapidly. One of the few plants not eaten by goats so I guess it contains toxins of some sort. Any help in identification much appreciated, Patricia Fenn.
Yes it's Castor-oil Plant, Ricinus communis. In many warmer regions it is regarded as a weed. Just be aware that the seeds are extremely poisonous.
Thanks Tony, they are regarded as a weed here too, so they are ignored, as is the Cretan way with anything regarded as useless. Consequently it has become a very common plant.