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Curated News

Director of science at Kew: it's time to decolonize botanical collections

Professor Alexandre Antonelli is the director of Kew Gardens, responsible for the world's largest collection of plants and fungi. He was born and raised in Brazil and wrote this landmark piece for The Conversation research website.

Have you tried growing Castor Bean?

It's one of Michael Pollan's favorite plants.

Check out the way he starts his article on the plant called "Consider the Castor Bean":

"Pretty they are not, but a garden can labor under a surfeit "surfut" of prettiness, be too sweet or cheerful for its own good. Sometimes what’s needed in the garden is a hint of vegetal menace, of nature run tropically, luxuriantly amuck. For this, I recommend the castor bean."

While most of us have heard of castor oil (extracted from the seeds by crushing and processing), growing the castor bean plant can be a new adventure for gardeners.

The castor bean plant is the only member of the genus Ricinus communis and belongs to the spurge family. Unlike other members of the Euphorbia family, the castor bean does not have the milky latex sap; the sap of the castor bean is watery.

The giant, tropical leaves and peculiar seed pods make the plant an exotic addition to your garden. A native plant from Ethiopia, castor bean can grow to 40 feet tall and grows year-round. For most gardeners who grow castor bean as an annual in a single season, it will grow quickly and vigorously, but typically only reaches about 8-10 feet.

If you grow castor beans, be aware that the seeds are extremely poisonous. If you have kids around, keep plants out of reach, and eliminate the seeds altogether by cutting off the flowering spike. As you probably suspected from the Latin name, the toxin in castor seeds is ricin (RYE-sin), one of the world's deadliest natural poisons.

During the Cold War, the Bulgarian journalist, Georgi Markov, was killed when an umbrella rigged as a pellet rifle shot a small BB into his leg as Markov stood in line at a bus stop. After he died in 1978, Scotland Yard investigated and found the BB; it was the size of a pinhead, and it had been drilled with two holes producing an X-shaped cavity, and the holes had been packed with ricin. The holes had been coated with a sugary substance that trapped the ricin inside the BB. The coating was designed to melt at body temperature, at which time the ricin was free to be absorbed into the bloodstream and kill him.

Despite their unnerving history, castor beans remain suitable garden plants. They look beautiful with cannas, bananas, and elephant ears for a tropical garden. They make a beautiful backdrop for grasses. And, they shine at the back of the flower border, where they create a magnificent screen in no time.

Castor Beans do best in full sun and dislike wet feet, so plant them in high, dry, or well-drained locations.

When you are done harvesting blackberries or boysenberries, it is time to do a little housekeeping.

Cut this year's fruit-bearing canes back to the ground and tie up the new green canes to take their place.

Once all the fruiting has finished, you can begin to trim back your blackberries and boysenberries. The canes that just produced the fruit will start to dry and become woody and brown. Now is the time to cut them right back to the ground.

While you're at it, cut back any diseased or damaged canes.

Next, look for anything too long or out of control. Try to make your plants have a beautiful, pleasant form.

Take the new canes and train them where you want them to go. Ensure they are spread out to allow for good airflow. Remember, taking the time to do this right now will make them easier to pick from next season.

Thornless varieties make the job of pruning blackberries and boysenberries much easier. Don't forget: The fruit grows on new wood.

And be sure to remove all dead or broken limbs - and suckers as well.

Botanical History On This Day

1818 Emily Brontë, the English novelist and poet, was born. Though not an ardent gardener, Emily and her sister Anne treasured their small fruit garden and currant bushes on the Yorkshire moors. Emily’s verses often mirror the wild, untamed beauty of nature she so loved.

1848 Ellis Rowan, Australia’s “brilliant daughter,” was born. A fearless botanical artist, Ellis traveled alone into the wilds of Papua New Guinea at age 68 to paint birds of paradise and wildflowers — all while wearing full Victorian dress.

1901 Arkansas Apple Blossom was adopted as the state floral emblem after a spirited “battle of the blooms.” Love Harriett Wilkins Barton led the charge for the apple blossom, appearing in a bright red dress and gifting each lawmaker an apple with the note, “These are the results of our beautiful apple blossoms.”

Unearthed Words

Today, we remember the poet and soldier Alfred Joyce Kilmer, best known for his beloved poem “Trees.” His words remind us that while poets may praise the natural world, only nature — and God — can truly make it.

Grow That Garden Library™

Read The Daily Gardener review of Natural Living Style by Selina Lake

Buy the book on Amazon: Natural Living Style by Selina Lake

Today's Botanic Spark

1932 Flowers and Trees, Walt Disney’s first Academy Award–winning animated short, premiered on this day. The Technicolor cartoon brought to life a forest of singing flowers and dueling trees, and it remains a vivid tribute to the beauty and drama of nature.

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And remember: For a happy, healthy life, garden every day.