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| Photo Credit: Sheri Ann Richerson |
| In spring, castor bean foliage adds a lush, tropical feel to a colorful flower bed. |
Are you ready to put some ooh-la-la into your flower beds? Are you just waiting for someone to ask, “Wow, what is that plant?” If you said, “yes” to either question, then be sure to add a few tropical plants like castor bean or angel’s trumpet to your garden this season! Not only are these plants easy to start from seed, they’ve got dramatic foliage, are quick growers and produce dramatic blooms in just a few months!
Now, you might be thinking, “Tropicals?! How can I grow them in my neck of the woods?” And the answer’s simple: When used as annuals, these beauties can fill a variety of roles in a flower bed. And if you get an early start and grow them from seed, they’re even more economical. So use them to temporarily fill in areas designated for perennials, trees or shrubs, and they’ll make a dramatic statement that adds a wonderful lush feel to your garden. Castor bean (Ricinus communis) can be directly sown in the ground as soon as the last frost for your area is over. This beauty prefers full sun and grows approximately 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide, but it can get larger depending on the variety, fertilization and water received. And because this plant is quite drought-tolerant, it’s an excellent choice for Xeriscaping. Castor beans don’t need a lot of fertilization. Just use the average amount you put on your beds, and the plants will do just fine.
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