Flowers (annual and perennial)

🌱 Castor Beans & Senna: Bold Companions in the Garden 🌼

Every garden has those plants that quietly blend into the background—and then there are the showstoppers. Castor beans and senna definitely fall into that second category. They both bring a kind of presence that makes you stop and take a second look, though they do it in very different ways.

✨ Castor Beans (Ricinus communis)
If you’ve ever seen a castor bean plant in its prime, you know it’s not shy. These plants can grow to the size of small trees in a single summer. Reaching 10 to 15 feet tall isn’t unusual. Their leaves are huge, often larger than a dinner plate. The color can be anything from shiny green to deep burgundy or bronze. They add an instant tropical feel, even in gardens far from the tropics.

The flowers themselves aren’t much to talk about, but the spiky red seed pods are striking and always get questions from visitors. That said, castor beans do come with a caution flag: every part of the plant is toxic, especially the seeds. It’s best grown where kids and pets won’t be tempted to explore too closely. Think of it as a “look but don’t touch” plant.

🌼 Senna (Cassia species)
Where castor beans bring boldness, senna brings sunshine. These shrubs or small trees are absolutely smothered in golden-yellow blooms when in season, turning into bright beacons in the garden. They tend to bloom from late summer into fall, just when things are starting to look a little tired, and the pollinators are all over them.

The foliage is softer and airier than castor bean leaves, which makes a nice contrast. There’s also a rich history behind senna—it’s been used for centuries in herbal medicine as a natural laxative—but in the garden, most people just enjoy it for the color and the way it draws butterflies.

🌿 Why Grow Them Together?
Pairing castor beans with senna makes for an eye-catching combination. Imagine those massive, bold leaves of castor rising behind a cloud of golden senna blooms—the contrast of textures and colors is stunning. One plant brings drama, the other brings cheer. Together, they create a landscape that feels both exotic and welcoming.

So if you’re looking to add a little “wow factor” to your garden, consider planting castor beans for the bold backdrop and senna for the glowing yellow highlights. Just be ready for visitors to ask, “What are those?”—because these two rarely go unnoticed.

Vines

Silver Lace Vine and the Sweet Autumn Clematis

Two vines that often fly under the radar are the Silver Lace Vine and the Sweet Autumn Clematis. Both are quick-growing plants, reaching heights of up to 20 feet. Later, they will reward you with a flush of white blooms in the fall. While the Silver Lace Vine is valued for its profusion of blossoms. The Sweet Autumn Clematis adds another layer of charm with its delightful, jasmine-like fragrance.

Silver Lace Clematis
Silver Lace Clematis
Sweet Autumn Clematis
Sweet Autumn Clematis
This week's garden questions

The Garden this Week (Sept. 19th)

We’re starting to see the Goldenrod Soldier Beetle showing up in the garden this week. Don’t worry—these little yellow-and-black bugs are actually helpful! They feed on flower pollen, and their larvae eat grasshopper eggs. So, no need to kill them.

Now, one insect you might want to deal with is the armyworm. Their eggs are hatching, and if you notice a heavy population in your lawn, it’s a good idea to treat it with a lawn insecticide before they cause too much damage.

This is also the right time to spray for perennial weeds and winter annual weeds. A 3-way spray containing 2,4-D plus Dicamba works well since it kills the roots. Just be careful if you’re spraying around trees.

If you’re seeing new growth on your trees or shrubs, resist the urge to prune it off. Just keep watering until they go dormant, and hold off on fertilizer—no woody plants should be fertilized this late in the season.

I’ve also had a couple of calls about mushrooms growing out of tree trunks. Unfortunately, that’s usually a sign of internal rot, which weakens the tree. If the tree is close to a house, shed, or other structure, it may be worth removing it before it comes down on its own.

And finally, some folks are noticing raspberries and blackberries are not setting berries this year. I’m seeing the same thing. The culprit? Our hot, dry summer limited pollination, so that is what is happening in the garden this week.