4 May 1, 2014 2014 SPRING HOME AND GARDEN “OUT OF THE ORDINARY” LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.COM
Plant a lovable giant
Make your neighbors’ eyes pop:
T
his year, add a
lovable giant to
your landscape
and make your
neighbors’ eyes pop!
In the fairy tale story of
Jack and the beanstalk,
the stalk Jack climbed
may very well have been
a castor bean! The castor
bean plant grows 4, 5, 6
and even 7 feet tall during
the course of a summer.
It possesses large leaves,
a heavy stalk and comes
in a variety of colors,
including dark green, a
deep red and an orange-
red bronze color.
While some of the
younger generations may
not know about castor
oil, many old-timers can
tell you that as kids their
mothers gave them a
spoonful to cure what
ailed them. The oil was
most commonly used
as a laxative to cure a
stomachache and came
from the castor bean.
The fact is, the castor
bean dates back to
ancient days and has
been found in such exotic locations as the tombs of ancient
Egypt.
In the garden, the castor bean plant, scientifically named
Ricinus, can add height and interest to your landscape. These
are great plants to use against the bare side of a house to help
dress up a drab exterior wall. They are also great to plant in
front of open windows to allow for added privacy.
By Nila Smith
Castor bean
