Castor Bean

Rocco · Post by **Rocco** » Sep 05, 2006 10:32 pm

A few pics of some Castor Bean plants,which volunteered to grow in my compost pile.I measured them today, and the tallest plant is a bit over twelve feet high.I love them,they look so tropical.
Rocco

Annie · Post by **Annie** » Sep 06, 2006 6:52 am

I really love the castor bean plant. I had volunteers come up the last time I planted them too.
Only thing I don't like about them is the root

Dang there are sapsuckers to dig up

But I do love the plant, and I like the purple one, its my favorite one.

Snow · Post by **Snow** » Sep 06, 2006 7:26 pm

Is the red part of the plant (in the top pic)?

Nathalie23 · Post by **Nathalie23** » Sep 06, 2006 8:23 pm

I love the english name!!! Here, it's just Ricin....

Rocco · Post by **Rocco** » Sep 06, 2006 9:36 pm

To answer Snow's question,The red is the seed pods.they are round, red,and covered with many sharp spines.Also, every part of the plant is poisonous!The pics were taken at different times of the season,the latest is the one with the seed pods.
Rocco.

viktoria · Post by **viktoria** » Sep 07, 2006 6:27 am

Would you bring me some seeds on Saturday, Rocco? I grew these for a few years and the last time the seeds may not have been mature enough as none germinated.

Thanks,

Viktoria

tsneal · Post by **tsneal** » Sep 07, 2006 9:16 am

So pretty! Every year I say I will grow so and haven't seemed to do it yet. Maybe next year!

rakenleafs · Post by **rakenleafs** » Sep 07, 2006 2:21 pm

Could you tell me how the root system on these is? I am thinking Cadtor Bean might be the solution to my shade problem until my other trees grow a little.
Has anyone used them as temp shade?
Gowing so big so fast, do they leave a lot of root debris in the fall?
I assume because of the seed-pods once you have one you can just use the seed for nest year?

Fran

viktoria · Post by **viktoria** » Sep 08, 2006 7:09 am

I have used them for temporary shade. They are easy to remove once the frost hits them.