Castor bean plants repel moles and insects.
The castor bean plant grows to be up to 15 inches tall with proper care. It has unusual leaves that contain alkaloids, which repel most garden pests. Gardeners often cultivate the plant in strategic areas to minimize pest problems. Does this Spark an idea?
Mosquito Repellent
Castor bean plants repel insects, including mosquitoes. People can dry the leaves or use castor oil to make environmentally friendly insect repellents. Some mosquito repellent products that are marketed as natural products contain castor oil as an active ingredient.
Mole Repellent
Often simply called the mole plant, castor bean repels moles. It has a milky sap in its stem that emits a smell that moles dislike. According to the University of Kentucky, mole repellents that use castor oil as an active ingredient prove to be effective. However, since castor oil does not kill the moles, another infestation could occur after treatment.
Considerations
The castor bean plant has poisonous seeds and people can use them to prepare toxins. However, many other common garden plants have poisonous qualities, including daffodils, jasmine and azaleas. People also used to use castor oil as a laxative, so it is actually quite safe. Nevertheless, gardeners should still be careful to keep children away from the plant.
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