Oh, you got me! Thomas Jefferson introduced Hyacinth Bean to America. THAT'S the plant he grew, not Castor Bean. I posted that this morning before I had my second cup of coffee. My bad. :)
And yes, Hyacinth Bean grows just like a pole green bean, but has purplish heart-shaped leaves and gorgeous pinkish blossoms. People use it as a decorative vine inthe garden. The Hyacinth Bean seeds can be eaten, but they're the ones that need to be rinsed and boiled, rinsed and boiled before eating.
Sorry if I confused anyone. People DON'T generally eat Castor Beans. Again, my mistake!
My dad is going through a nasty divorce from her and has been very sick twice this year before she left(she wrote his obituary before she left), since she has been gone he is suddenly gotten well.
One of his neighbors told him that she had been growing caster beans on her mail box and was probably trying to poison him! We laughed it off, but then your post. LOL!