Anyone grow castor bean plants?

[Lone_Star_Dem]

I'm thinking about trying them this year as a backdrop for one of my gardens. I'm in zone 8a and wonder if they'd become invasive here.

If you've tried them what varieties did you find to be the best? I'm leaning toward the red for this garden but I found a purple one that I thought would be a striking specimen planting.


Edit to add the zone.

[TygrBright]

1. I grew the purple ones one year in Zone 7 and they became a bit too enthusiastic...

...for me. Bad planning, I'd thought they could "fill in" a barenekkid fence area between some autumn clematis and some white climbing roses.

They kept trying to eat the roses and the clematis had to fight them off, and there was a helluva cleanup mess in February. It was a sturdy fence and I noticed some of the boards warping, too!

If I tried it again in a wet climate I'd put them where they could do their worst (best) without getting entangled with other stuff, otherwise, I like them.

Be careful, though, if you have kids around, they are HIGHLY toxic in all parts and they're so pretty...

minatorily,
Bright

[Gormy Cuss]

2. Yep, yep, yep and yep.

They're better in Zone 5 or 6 and only if you have no kids or garden eating pets. They are pretty.