Spider Flower

Cleome hassleriana

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.

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Light:

Part Sun, Sun

Type:

Annual

Height:

From 1 to 8 feet

Width:

1-2 feet wide

Flower Color:

Blue, Pink, White

Seasonal Features:

Fall Bloom, Summer Bloom

Problem Solvers:

Deer Resistant

Special Features:

Attracts Birds, Cut Flowers, Fragrance, Good for Containers, Low Maintenance

how to grow Spider Flower

Propagation

Seed

more varieties for Spider Flower

Helen Campbell spider flower

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

Queen Series spider flower

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

Seniorita Rosalita spider flower

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

Violet Queen spider flower

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

plant Spider Flower with

Cosmos

You can depend on this cottage-garden favorite to fill your garden with color all season long. The simple, daisylike flowers appear in cheery shades on tall stems that are great for cutting. The lacy foliage makes a great backdrop for shorter plants, as well. Cosmos often self-seeds in the garden, so you may only have to plant it once, though the colors can appear muddy or odd in the reseeders.Plant cosmos from seed directly in the ground in spring. Or start from established seedlings. This flower doesn't like fertilizing or conditions that are too rich, which causes the foliage to be large and lush but with fewer blooms. It does best with average moisture but will tolerate drought.

Moonflower

Moonflower is one of the most romantic plants you can grow in the garden. It's a statuesque, ideal evening-garden plant bearing large trumpet-shape flowers that unfurl in the evening (or on overcast days) and stay open until the sun rises. Some are sweetly fragrant when open. This beautiful plant is also very heat- and drought-resistant. Beware: It's quite poisonous, especially the seeds.Moonflower can be found as an established plant in garden centers. Plant outdoors after all danger of frost has passed. Give it moderate moisture and fertilizer. You can also train it into a treelike plant along a stake, especially in a large container. Datura reseeds freely to the point of being invasive in some conditions.

Zinnia

Want fast color for just pennies? Plant zinnias! A packet of seeds will fill an area with gorgeous flowers in an amazing array of shapes and colors -- even green! And it will happen in just weeks. There are dwarf types of zinnias, tall types, quill-leaf cactus types, spider types, multicolor, special seed blends for cutting, special blends for attracting butterflies, and more.Zinnias are so highly attractive to butterflies that you can count on having these fluttering guests dining in your garden every afternoon. But to attract the most, plant lots of tall, red or hot pink zinnias in a large patch. 'Big Red' is especially nice for this, and the flowers are outstanding, excellent for cutting. Zinnias grow quickly from seed sown right in the ground and do best in full sun with dry to well-drained soil.

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