Like its cousin the Sword bean (Canavalia gladiata), the Jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis) is tropical exotic that is making some inroads in the southern US.

Here is a link that might be useful: Jack Bean

If you do a search of this forum you will find a number of threads which mention Jack Beans and Sword Beans.

Jim

On doing research,everything I can find shows the bean pods, I'd like to see an actual picture of the plant. This is a Jack Bean, correct?

I found this photo by doing a Google image search.

Jim

Here is a link that might be useful: Jack Bean Plant

To me, what you have resembles Castor Bean, but I can't identify it for sure. If it is castor bean, be careful because it is highly toxic.

Jim

Here is a link that might be useful: Castor Bean

Jim I believe you found it. The castor bean looks just like my picture, I think my sister is mistaken, this is not a Jack Bean.

The Mole bean/ Castor bean ( Ricinus communis) is readily identified by its seedpods which resemble a cluster of burrs on a stick. They grow fast into a small tree size plant reaching 12-15 feet. Before WW II farmers in my are always had some plants in cultivated (row crop) fields in the belief that they kept down moles and voles. It is toxic, but so is Datura which also grew wild in the fields.

Is it common for the Castor Beans to get yellow leaves at the very bottom of the plant? Mine still looks great but the bottom leaves are turning yellow. Does anyone know why? Is it the particular season? I imagine it won't be lasting much longer when we have a cold freeze. I have plenty seeds though for next year.

Yes, it is common for the bottom leaves to yellow and die as the plant reaches height. In this part of Georgia, they reemerge from the stump, unless we plow them up in the fall. Very easy to start from seeds tho.

Thanks for the information. It looks like my plant has reached it's height. I know I will lose it when the cold gets here. That is fine. I have lots of seeds on the plant and plan on replanting in the spring. This is the neatest plant.

Farmer your right about how easy it is starting from seeds, I saved seeds from last year and they are already coming up.