Castor Beans

I may be dreaming here, so if I am, please tell me.

I have some castor bean seeds that I didn't know quite what to do with. I am extremely short of shade for another year or so, and trying to improvise. If I build a hosta bed in a somewhat semi shady area, can I also plant castor beans in that bed for additional shade? I know the castor beans want sun, and they will get it on the outside portions of the bed, but will the hostas be okay underneath them? Do castor beans grow fast enough to use this way?

If this won't work, I'm open to other suggestions for quick growing temporary shade, since this will only be a temporary bed until my other shade grows up a bit more. We originally were going to build a wooden shade cover, but I'd rather do a fast growing plant one if I can.

Castor beans do grow very fast and very tall!! so I think that you should be fine. I would try it b/c I know that they will shade your hosta at least until your other shade fills in. My mother planted some caster beans under a full grown pine tree and although they didn't get as big and tall as mine that were in full sun...they still grew about 4-5' tall. So I would say yea try it, and just keep an eye on the hosta.
Good luck!

Thanks MollyBee. I'm gonna do it then.

my caster bean tree grew...adn grew...bet it was a good 12 of more feet tall. it was so fun!!! freaked all the neighbors out.

Aren't they neat?!!! I loved having mine last year, but since it was my first year having them I didn't know they would really get that big and I put them "in" a flower bed!! a flower bed that was "suppose" to be a full sun bed and after the caster beans grew their full size I had a shade bed!! LOL I knew better this year!! I have them planted in a long row on the fence to kinda block the neighbors! Its like a instant privacy fence!!

I'm liking the sound of these more and more all the time. I am a little concerned about them being poisonous, but we don't have any little kids in the area, and I can't see the cats or dogs eating them. We do have a rabbit, but he's in his rabbit condominium.

Is it the seeds that are most deadly? Could the problem be avoided by deadheading the blooms?

Hmmm I have heard that the whole plant is poisonous, but now I can't be for sure positive though. I didn't have a problem with them and I have 3 kids. I done most all of the leaf pulling(when one would die off) and I never had any problems at all. I think they should do fine for you JoanJ

Thank you all. I have the seeds soaking now. I'm gonna do it. I don't think the cats will bother them either.

Molly, I did the same thing, planted one in a flower bed that was full sun. Didn't know those things grew so tall.
Joan, I use bigger plants to shade others all the time. It works great because the summer is the only time they really need the shade. Sunflowers work good too, as do vines on an arbor.

I can do sunflowers too! Thanks Cala. Vines on an arbor might take a little thought, but it's do-able. I have all these morning glories started already. Hmmmm...arbor...need to figure out a way to build one. LOL!

I really think this is going to work until my trees get a little bigger. I'm excited now.

Joan, I'm working on a "temporary" arbor now. I'm using 4 pieces of 10 ft cane from the river and 2 pieces of thick grape vine from the woods. I stuck the four poles in the ground for the main part of the arbor and am using the vines for the curved top. Now just gotta figure out what to do for the rungs up the sides and keep the top from spreading apart. I'll figure it out.(hee, hee just call me "Martha" lol)

We are thinking of making a temporary one out of twisted cedar, if we can find some that's not too big around. I don't know how we could round the top though, so it might be straight across instead. I'd love to see a picture of yours when you get it done Cala.

Joan, if it doesn't fall on me and kill me first!! It fell twice today, so I'm going to use a post hole digger to make the holes deeper. DH said I'm no carpenter(didn't know the level bubble thingie HAD to be on the line, just thought if it was somewhere near the center it was good) and I made a chicken house to keep the raccoons out of my chickens. The chickens are gone and the house is still standing, guess that will show him!! I use it to store pots in now.

Mollybee ,I just wanted you to know I planted the castor bean seed you sent. they aer about 1 foot high. They are growing so fast. I am growing 3 in a pot.so I can move it around! T
The castor bean is one of the deadliest of poisons... I watch a program called forensic files, and it has been found in persons being murdered with it. I believe it contains rincin(may not be spelled right.) I don't have any children around to eat the beans and they grow so tall I don't think they would be of interest, or reach of a child. Who allows thier kids to chew on plants anyway?I have a lot of poisonous plants and they are the prettiest!

O Tink, that is wonderful news! It makes me feel good to hear such positive feedback from someone I traded with! Thanks for letting me know, and may they be the tallest Caster beans you have ever seen!

My sister and her friend Patsy tried to murder me with Caster beans washed down with Coke when we were small children. Luckily I was bright enough not to chew them. I swallowed them whole. I'm still here sixty years later. Interesting what kids will do with siblings that are bothersome. I do love the looks of them and now that I'm reminded , I think I'll plant some... :)

Oh, Forgetmenot - that is horrible - you must have been really bad, or maybe it was just them!! Castor Oil is made from the beans so I don't see how they can be poison. The plants are tho - people plant them to keep moles away. Don't understand that either, because moles don't eat the roots as I used to think - they are after the grubs in the soil. I'm sure they are not any more poison than Brugs or Datura, but yes one of the most poison.