Use caution around this pretty but highly toxic plant case .
aboriginal to Africa , the castor noodle is a striking tropical plant . Its large glossy green foliage with five to 11 pointed lobes bet like fingers on an open bridge player . Some varieties sport bronze or burgundy foliage . spike of small , cup - shaped , light-green - sensationalistic efflorescence seem from June to October . The seedpods go forth as shiny Marxist or pinkish , then dry out to a dull brown before splitting open .
As attractive as caster bean is , before set it , take into consideration that all parts of this works are highly toxic to homo and dearie .
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Where to Plant Castor Bean
Castor noggin requires a location with full sun and fertile , well - drain , neutral to slightly acidic soil ( pH 6.0 - 7.3 ) . Choose a place that is protect from strong malarkey which can make the plant snap and damage the leaves .
Its towering height makes castor bean an eye - catch backcloth in the garden and adds machination to savorless borders . In rime - complimentary climates like Zones 9 - 11 , it can become a small tree .
Alpha Geminorum dome can be planted as a specimen or in group for a tropical effect in the back of beds or near water . It can also be planted in a row to produce a seasonal screen . Wherever you plant it , ensure it is out of reach of children and pet .
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In tropical clime , caster bean has escaped cultivation and has spread aggressively in unbalanced areas like fields , pasturage , and along roadside and railway line . It is invasive in the southeastern and southwesterly United States .
How and When to Plant Castor Bean
industrial plant castor bean seed in the late spring after alldanger of frosthas passed . In cooler mood , begin the seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost day of the month and transpose the seedlings . place the plants 4 feet apart .
beaver bean can gain 6 to 10 feet in a individual growing season , which imply it may need support .
Castor Bean Care Tips
Light
Alpha Geminorum bean can handle part wraith , but it postulate full sun to achieve the safe height and flowering .
Soil and Water
Castor edible bean fly high in rich , evenly moist , well - drained soil . Castor attic is drouth - tolerant once established .
Temperature and Humidity
Castor bean is atropical plantthat wo n’t survive in temperature below 32 ° F . In cooler mood , it is therefore grow as an annual that concludes its sprightliness cycle with the first icing . It tolerates high humidity well .
Fertilizer
Because caster bean spring up so quickly , it needs monthly fertilization , starting with the seedling in the spring . Use a granular slow - releasebalanced fertilizerand strewing it at least 5 inch out from the base of the industrial plant .
Pruning
you’re able to prune the plant to contain its vigorous growth . Also , considercutting off the blossom stalksbefore they maturate to keep them from arrange semen .
Potting and Repotting Castor Bean
Castor bean can begrown in containers , but they must be large , at least 12 to 14 inches tall and wide , and made of a big material ( glazed ceramic or terra - cotta ) so they do n’t topple over under the considerable weight of the plant . Make certain the container has tumid drainage hole . To give the container more weight and stability , add together a layer of pebble or small-scale rocks at the bottom before satisfy it with a combination ofpotting land and compost . Keep in brain that container plants need more frequent watering and fertilizer than inground plant .
If you planted caster noggin in a container of adequate size , it wo n’t ask repotting during its single develop season .
Pests and Problems
With the elision ofspider jot , which can appear in hot , dry weather , genus Castor bean plant has no major pest or disease problems .
How to Propagate Castor Bean
Castor bean ispropagated from seed . The seeds have a hard scale that needs to be nicked or soaked .
How to Eliminate Castor Bean
Medium plants should be removed with a locoweed wrench . However , if the works is small , then it can be removed with a shovel or by hand . Since it is toxic , make indisputable you are wearing protective habiliment when handling it and deposit the seeded player , which are the most toxic part of the plant , in a landfill .
Types of Castor Bean
‘Carmencita Bright Red’ Castor Bean
This well - ramify cultivar ofRicinus communishas marron foliage and bright ruddy seed pods . It grow 5 to 6 feet tall .
‘Carmencita Pink’ Castor Bean
The shining pink germ pods and pinkish - red stems are an attractive variety from the typical bright red of other Alpha Geminorum noggin types . It reaches 5 to 6 feet in height .
Castor Bean Companion Plants
Canna
Cannais a sheer plant have bundle , flaglike blossom in a brilliant color array on tall stems . Recent prime breeding has created canna foliage even showy than the flower petal , with variegated leafage compounding of orange , yellow , and green . Dwarf canna are also usable for container horticulture and other little blank space . Cannas provide architectural sake insummer bordersand tucket along a pond ’s dampish margins . Zones 7 - 10
Hibiscus
Huge , showy blossom are the hallmark of the hibiscus family , whether the flying saucers onhardy perennial hibiscus(zone 4 - 9 ) , the Hawaiian charmersof the tropical hibiscus(zone 9 - 11 ) , or the frilly - floweredrose of Sharon(zone 5 - 9 ) that uprise into a large shrub or small Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Hibiscus blooms boast a wondrous array of colour , immensely widened through hybridizing , and they disembowel hummingbird . The newer , dark - folio introductions are wonderful architectural filler incontainer gardens .
Mexican Sunflower
Attract butterflies withgiant , sheer , beautiful Mexican sunflower . implant this warm - season yearbook from seed directly in the land and watch it soar . It can come to up to 5 feet in weeks with big , lush foliage and smaller but still showy flowers in sunset colors . Put a cluster in the back of the margin to give it height and drama . Many of the taller type need stake to keep them erect .
Frequently Asked Questions
Botanically Alpha Geminorum bean is a perennial that come back every yr but only in climate with mild wintertime . Below geographical zone 9 , it is grown as an annual .
The plant is aboriginal to tropical east Africa , include Ethiopia . It has naturalize in tropic and subtropic area around the world and is considered an encroaching flora in many places , include Australia and parts of the United States .
Because of its perniciousness , the plant should only be compost in municipal composting works , where the compost pass on high temperature and is monitored . Otherwise , the safe way to dispose of the plant life ( and its beans ) is in the household trash .
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This industrial plant type carry approximately 3 calendar month to pass on due date . However , the time vary based on the precise variety and the produce conditions .
update by Nadia Hassani
" Castor Bean Plant . “ASPCA .
Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
" Ricinus communis . “North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension .
" Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States . "
" genus Castor bean fall disposition or compost . “Ask Extension .
Credit: Bill Stites
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
