Castor Bean

Castor Bean is an ornamental with a tropical feel

For a tough, dependable, large plant that lends a tropical feel to beds we like the Castor Bean. Here in Cincinnatti, we treat it as an oversized ornamental with broad purple-red leaves that are shaped like stars—each one can reach up to two feet across. Sprigs of red flowers seem like they’ve been tucked in here and there to decorate the serrated foliage, and curious spiny seed pods complete the look.

This heritage plant has been cultivated for thousands of years

A constant flow of hot pink flowers

Wave upon wave of long, slender blooms flow out of ‘Eruption’ like a surge of dense, hot pink lava cascading over the deep green foliage. It’s an unusual look with a large number of flowers for a Fuchsia, and the blooms keep coming right up until the first frosts of fall. Baskets erupting with vibrant color like this are the ones that get noticed, and the uncommon flower shape adds even more intrigue to the show.

In addition to baskets, ‘Eruption’ mounds and trails elegantly out of window boxes, where the compelling blossoms can be seen up-close while they lure hummingbirds and butterflies for added interest. Combined with Coleus, the brilliant blooms bring bright color to shade areas of the landscape. For the best result find a spot that provides shelter from the wind and keep the soil evenly moist.

Brilliant blooms are unusually long and slender

We use this Fuchsia as a thriller in other containers as well. Silver foliaged plants make an effective backdrop for the hot pink flowers—try pairing ‘Eruption’ with Lamium ‘White Nancy’.

‘Eruption’ is available in the 10-inch hanging basket. ‘White Nancy’ comes in the 1801 flat.

Shades of deep purple in a mounded, trailing mix

Following the theme of a simplified mix we’d like to highlight this two-color version using Easy Wave Petunias. It’s an uncomplicated but effective color combination that works in the purple arena. While most gardens in Cincinnati cannot grow Petunias effectively—because of the heavy clay soil that leads to root rot problems—this is a stellar plant for hanging baskets, window boxes, and combinations. We like to let these deep, rich shades of purple trail over the edges.

Easy Waves tend to be more mounded and less loose than their cousins, the Waves. This mix will set new blooms from the center as well as the ends of each stem, so they stay looking fresh and newly opened month after month.

Plum Pudding Mix comes in both the landscape 1801L and the retail 1801 break-apart flats.