Spider Flowers (Cleome hassleriana) Plant Profile
Spider Flowers (Cleome hassleriana)
is an annual flower that blooms in mid-summer to early fall. It is also known
as Grandfather’s Whiskers and Spider Legs.
The flowers are usually pale to dark pink, purple, or white.
The foliage is palm-shaped and the stems are somewhat spikey. It is native to
South America and is hardy to USDA Zones 10-11.
It can grow to several feet tall, depending on the variety. It
is surprisingly sturdy and normally doesn’t need staking. There are more than 180 kinds of Cleome
including the fragrant ‘Rose Queen’ and the compact ‘Linde Armstrong’.
‘Señorita Rosalita’ is a newer introduction that is thornless, odorless, and
sterile.
Cleome does best in full sun and well-draining soils. They
are fairly drought-tolerant and do not need fertilizing. They will die after
being hit by a frost.
Hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators are highly attracted
to this plant. Some theorize that bats are the main pollinator of this plant in
its native tropical habitat.
Cleome are easy to start from seeds and they are prolific
reseeders.
Cleome: You Can Grow
That!
The
video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine as part of our Plant
Profile series for Mid-Atlantic USA gardeners.
Audio, text, and editing by
Kathy Jentz
Video by Christine Folivi
Photos courtesy of Proven Winners,
https://www.provenwinners.com/
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