How to Grow Captivating Cleome Flowers

BASICS

Botanical name:

Cleome hassleriana

Common names:

Spider flower, grandfather's whiskers

Zones:

8 to 11; usually grown as an annual in cooler climates

Bloom time:

Early summer until frost

Exposure:

Full sun

Flower colors:

Pink, blush, lavender, and white

Foliage:

Dark-green palmate leaves are lush and attractive, but sometimes have an unpleasant scent and sharp, thorny spines at the base. Look for newer cultivars bred to be odorless and thorn free.

Special attributes:

• Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other pollinating insects
• Heat tolerant
• Needs no deadheading
• Deer and rabbit resistant

PLANTING CLEOME

Photo by: Proven Winners.

Where to plant:

In full sun or light shade in average, well-drained soil.

When to plant:

In late spring, after all danger of frost has passed.

Spacing:

Space 1 to 2 feet apart, and plant in groups of 5 or more for the greatest visual impact.

Growing cleome from seed:

Although not all cleomes set seed, there are some varieties that can be started from seed. Sow seeds directly in the garden after the soil has warmed up in spring or start indoors 6 to 8 weeks before transplanting outside. Barely cover the seeds with soil (no more than a quarter inch) and water to keep the soil moist until germination. Thin plants to the spacing recommended on the seed packet once they become established.

CLEOME CARE & MAINTENANCE

Water:

Keep soil evenly moist, but not wet. They aren't very drought tolerant, and if allowed to get too dry, lower leaves can turn yellow and drop. Keep an eye on container-grown plants as they will dry out faster than those planted in the ground.

Fertilizer:

To keep your cleome flowering vigorously all growing season, fertilize them every 6 to 8 weeks with a water-soluble fertilizer, and in the spring with a slow-release granular fertilizer suitable for flowering plants. Container-grown plants may need more frequent applications.

Staking:

Cleome has sturdy stalks, so staking is rarely needed to support the weight of their large blooms. However, varieties that grow taller than 5 feet may need some support if they become too lanky, especially if you plant them in a windy location.

Pruning and deadheading:

They are self-cleaning, so no deadheading is needed. However, you can remove the spent blossoms if you want to prevent seed pods from forming and boost flower production.

Although the height of cleome is often an asset, it’s possible to make your plants bushier and more compact by pruning or pinching them back in late spring, which will encourage more branching.

Pests & diseases:

Cleome has few serious pest or disease problems, but it can be a target for aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies. It is also susceptible to powdery mildew, which can be avoided by providing enough space between plants to ensure good air circulation.

PICTURES

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Photo by: Proven Winners.

Señorita Rosalita® — Buy now from Proven Winners
Cleome hybrid

Height/Spread: 24 to 48 inches tall, 18 to 24 inches wide

Flower color: Lavender pink

Why we love it: A non-seeding cultivar with no thorns, no unpleasant foliage odor, and no seedpods. Since the plant’s energy goes into making flowers rather than seeds, the blooms are profuse and produced all along the stem rather than just on top.

Also try: Señorita Blanca® (white flowers) and Señorita Mi Amor® (bright pink flowers)

Photo by: Lynne Harrison / Millette Photomedia.

Sparkler™ Blush
C. hassleriana 'Sparkler Blush'

Height/Spread: 3 to 4 feet tall, 2 to 3 feet wide

Flower color: Blush pink

Why we love it: Notable for being the first cleome hybrid, this award winner produces big, fluffy, cotton-candy pink blooms up to 6 inches across. A bushy, full growth habit makes it well-suited for use as low hedge or mid-border focal point.

Also try: Others in the Sparkler™ series include White, Lavender, or Rose

Photo by: InfoFlowersPlants / Shutterstock.

Clio™ Magenta
Cleome hybrid

Height/Spread: 24 to 36 inches tall, 18 to 24 inches wide

Flower color: Violet with pink overtones

Why we love it: A non-seeding hybrid that produces rounded clusters of pinkish-purple flowers from early summer until midfall. Well-branched with a nice upright, bushy growth habit and rich green foliage.

Photo by: Andrew Fletcher / Shutterstock.

'White Queen'
C. hassleriana 'White Queen'

Height/Spread: 4 to 6 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide

Flower color: White

Why we love it: One of the tallest, topped by enormous 8-inch clusters of pristine white blooms all summer long, with new buds continuing to open from the center as old flowers fade. Makes a beautiful cut flower, but beware of the small thorns on the stems. Self-sows prolifically.

Also try: Others in the Queen series include ‘Mauve Queen’, ‘Violet Queen’, ‘Rose Queen’, and ‘Cherry Queen’ (often sold in mixed-color seed blends if you want to try them all)

USING CLEOME IN THE GARDEN

Photo by: Proven Winners.

There are many ways to include cleome in your garden. Here are a few ideas:

• To add height and interest at the back of a flower bed. Because taller varieties tend to lose their lower foliage as the stalks grow, disguise those bare spots by planting shorter mound-forming plants in front of them.
• As a thriller in mixed containers with other sun-loving annuals or perennials.
• As one of the main attractions in a hummingbird haven or bee-friendly garden.
• Around the outskirts of a vegetable garden to deter deer and attract beneficial insects.
• Cleome is also a great companion plant for lettuce and cabbage because the tall flowers provide dappled shade as the weather warms.
• As a backdrop in an enchanting pink and white cottage garden, behind lower-growing plants such as dianthus, pink or white petunias, white verbena and Silver Bullet® artemisia.