It is a lot less tropical in its requirements than some would have you
believe. It can and will germinate at relatively low temperatures and
in a half decent summer, seed is set profusely. I bought a mall,
rather attractively coloured form from a local market 2 years ago. It
was plonked in a bit of spare soil and immediately took off,
developing into a massive plant some 7 feet high, 5 feet across with
stunningly handsome leaves to well over 18" in diameter.

Heavy flowering commenced in late July followed by masses of ripe (and
for a while, attractive) seed pods. The resultant strewn seeds came
up in their droves during this past spring and for a while, were the
most commonly weeded out plants. The 'beans' remain viable at
temperatures down to minus 2C even if they are damp and will readily
germinate once temperatures rise above 14C.

Dave Poole
TORQUAY UK