Spider Flower

It's amazing that the tall, dramatic spider flower is only an annual. Once temperatures warm up, it zooms to 4 feet or more plants very quickly and produces large balls of flowers with fascinating long seedpods that whirl out from it. Cut it for vases, but be aware that the flowers shatter easily after a few days. It typically self-seeds prolifically, so you only have to plant it once. Because it develops surprisingly large thorns, it's best to keep spider flower away from walkways.

Plant established seedlings in spring after all danger of frost has passed. Cleome does best in moderately rich, well-drained soil. Be careful about fertilizing or you'll have extremely tall floppy plants. Group in clusters of 6 or more for best effect.

Light:

Sun,Part Sun

Plant Type:

Annual

Plant Height:

2-6 feet tall

Plant Width:

1-2 feet wide

Landscape Uses:

Containers,Beds & Borders

Special Features:

Flowers,Fragrant,Cut Flowers,Attracts Butterflies,Deer Resistant,Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

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Helen Campbell spider flower

(Cleome 'Helen Campbell') bears pure white flowers on tall, 4-foot stems.
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Queen Series spider flower

(Cleome 'Queen Series') offers a mix of rose, violet, and white flowers on 4-foot-plants.
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Seniorita Rosalita spider flower

(Cleome 'Senorita Rosalita') bears lavender-pink flowers on a more heat-resistant 4-foot-tall plant.
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Violet Queen spider flower

(Cleome 'Violet Queen') produces lavender-purple flowers on 4-foot-tall plants.
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Garden Plans

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Lush Foliage Garden Plan
Tropical-Theme Summer Perennial Garden Plan
Design for a Moon Garden
Pondside Garden Plan
Front Walk Garden Plan
Tiny Corner Garden Plan
Summer Butterfly Garden Plan

Plant It With

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Cosmos

Create a romantic look with pink cosmos and pink or white spider flower.

Moonflower

Both angel's trumpet and spider flower are at their best as the sun goes down, so they're perfect for evening gardens.

Zinnia

Bring butterflies in by day and hummingbird moths at night by mixing colorful zinnias with spider flowers.

Propagation

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Seed