Cleome
A tall, dramatic annual with spidery flower clusters atop sturdy stems, self-sowing reliably in the garden.
On this pageOverview
Meet Cleome
A tall, dramatic annual with spidery flower clusters atop sturdy stems, self-sowing reliably in the garden. Cleome can reach five feet and provides excellent back-of-border height with airy blooms in pink, purple, and white. It is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, requiring minimal care once established.
When to plant Cleome
Direct sow cleome seeds after the last frost by scattering on the soil surface and pressing gently. Seeds need light and temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit to germinate in ten to fourteen days. For earlier blooms, start indoors four to six weeks before the last frost in individual pots to minimize root disturbance. Refrigerate seeds for one week before sowing to improve germination rates. Do not cover seeds, as light is required. Self-sown seedlings appear readily in subsequent years.
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Used once to set your season · never sharedHow to grow Cleome
Cleome is best direct-sown in the garden after the last frost, as it develops a taproot that resents transplanting. Choose a sunny location with average to poor soil and excellent drainage. Scatter seeds on the soil surface and press lightly, as cleome seeds benefit from light exposure for germination. Space plants or thin seedlings to eighteen to twenty-four inches apart to allow for their bushy mature size.
Once established, cleome is remarkably low-maintenance. It tolerates drought, heat, and poor soil with ease, making it an excellent choice for neglected garden areas. Water deeply but infrequently, allowing soil to dry between waterings. Staking is generally unnecessary as stems are sturdy, though very tall plants in windy locations may benefit from support.
Cleome blooms continuously from midsummer through frost without deadheading, though removing spent flower heads prevents excessive self-sowing. The plants have small thorns on stems, so wear gloves when handling. Feed lightly once or twice during the growing season with a balanced fertilizer, as overly rich soil produces lush foliage with fewer blooms. Allow some plants to go to seed for a self-sowing colony that returns each year.
The bed planner spaces every plant for you
Pick a bed size and PlotMyGarden spaces your Cleome at 45 cm, counts how many fit, and lays the block out before you buy a single seed.
Cleome's best neighbours
Cleome works beautifully as a tall backdrop behind lower-growing annuals like zinnias, cosmos, and marigolds. Its height and airy texture provide excellent vertical interest in mixed borders. The flowers attract hummingbirds and large butterflies, making it valuable in pollinator gardens. Plant with ornamental grasses for a naturalistic prairie-style combination. Its deer and rabbit resistance makes it a reliable choice in areas with wildlife pressure.
It flags clashes before you plant, not after
Every plant you place is checked against its neighbours in real time. Good matches glow green; conflicts get flagged on the spot — so a season-wrecking mistake never makes it into the ground.
Feed it well
Cleome is undemanding and grows well in average to poor, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. Rich, heavily amended soil produces excessive foliage at the expense of flowers. Work a light application of balanced granular fertilizer into the soil at planting time and side-dress once in midsummer. Container plants should be fed every three to four weeks with diluted liquid fertilizer. Sandy or gravelly soils suit cleome particularly well.
Ideal Temperature
Hardiness Zone Compatibility
From seed to harvest, stage by stage
Seed Starting
Cleome seeds have a hard coat and benefit from a brief chill treatment. Sow seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost, pressing them lightly onto moist seed-starting mix. Seeds require light and warmth of around 26-29°C to germinate. Germination can be erratic, taking anywhere from 5 to 14 days.
Seedling Development
Seedlings emerge with a pair of rounded cotyledons followed quickly by the first true leaves, which are simple and ovate. Within two to three weeks the distinctive palmate compound leaves begin to appear, each featuring five to seven leaflets arranged like fingers on a hand. Stems are slender but strengthen rapidly.
Vegetative Growth
Plants enter a rapid growth phase, building strong central stems and producing abundant palmate foliage. Cleome grows quickly in warm weather, often adding 5-8 cm of height per week. The characteristic slightly sticky stems and musky-scented foliage become apparent. Plants may reach 60-90 cm before flowering begins.
Bud Formation
Terminal flower buds develop at the top of each main stem, forming dense rounded clusters. The buds are initially tightly packed and green, gradually revealing color as the outer sepals part. Side branches also begin forming their own bud clusters, which will extend the blooming period significantly.
Flowering
Flowers open from the bottom of each cluster upward in a spiraling pattern, creating an ever-elongating spike of blooms. Each individual flower has four delicate petals and dramatically long stamens and pistils that extend well beyond the petals, creating the spidery appearance. Blooms continuously cycle through fresh blossoms at the top while forming elongated seed pods below.
Seed Pod Development
Long, narrow seed pods 5-10 cm in length develop rapidly below the active flower cluster, dangling on slender stalks. Each pod contains numerous small round seeds that start green and mature to brown or black. Pods eventually split open and scatter seeds freely, which is how cleome readily self-sows in the garden.
End of Season Decline
As temperatures drop in autumn, cleome growth slows and flower production decreases. Lower leaves yellow and drop while the upper portions of the plant may continue to bloom sporadically until the first hard frost kills the plant. The dried stalks with remaining seed pods create interesting winter silhouettes in the garden.
Place seeds in the refrigerator for 3-5 days before sowing to break dormancy. Do not cover seeds deeply as they need light exposure to trigger germination. Keep the growing medium consistently moist with a fine mist.
Caring for Cleome month by month
What to do each month for your Cleome
July
You are hereNo specific care tasks for this month.
Harvesting Cleome
Cut cleome stems for arrangements when the lower flowers on the cluster have opened and upper buds are still forming. Harvest in the cool morning hours and place stems in water immediately. Be aware that the stems have a musky scent that some find unpleasant indoors. For seed saving, allow seed pods to dry on the plant until they split naturally, then collect seeds and store in a paper envelope. Deadheading is optional but reduces self-sowing.
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Storage & Preservation
Fresh-cut cleome lasts four to six days in a vase with clean water. Adding floral preservative extends vase life. Change water frequently as stems can develop an odor. Seeds collected in autumn remain viable for two to three years when stored in a cool, dry location in sealed containers. Cleome does not dry or press well due to the delicate nature of its spider-like petals, so it is best enjoyed fresh.
What goes wrong — and the fix
Aphids
PestClusters of small insects on tender new growth and flower buds, sticky honeydew residue, and sooty mold on lower leaves.
Powdery Mildew
DiseaseWhite powdery coating on leaves, especially in late summer. Affected leaves may yellow and drop prematurely.
Spider Mites
PestFine stippling on leaves, tiny webbing between stems and leaves, bronzing of foliage during hot, dry weather.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
The biggest challenge with cleome is its enthusiastic self-sowing, which can make it weedy in some gardens. Remove spent flower heads before seeds mature to control spreading. The stems have small thorns that can scratch, so wear gloves when handling. Some gardeners dislike the musky scent of the foliage. Lower leaves may yellow and drop as the season progresses, which is normal. Plant shorter companions in front to disguise bare lower stems.
Growing Tips
- Refrigerate cleome seeds for 3-5 days before sowing to simulate a brief cold period that significantly improves germination rates, which can otherwise be frustratingly uneven and slow.
- Sow seeds on the surface of the growing medium and do not cover them, as cleome seeds require light exposure to trigger germination. Simply press seeds gently into moist soil to ensure good contact.
- Provide soil temperatures of 26-29°C for germination using a seedling heat mat, as cleome is a tropical species that will not germinate well in cool soil conditions below 21°C.
- Space plants 45-60 cm apart to allow adequate air circulation, which reduces the risk of fungal diseases and gives each plant room to develop its full branching potential.
- Plant cleome at the back of borders or along fences where its impressive height of 90-150 cm can provide dramatic vertical interest without blocking shorter plants in front.
- Stake tall varieties in windy or exposed locations by inserting a single bamboo cane alongside the main stem and tying loosely with soft garden twine at two or three points along the stem.
- Avoid over-fertilizing cleome, as rich soil and excessive nitrogen promote lush leafy growth at the expense of flowers. A single application of balanced fertilizer at planting time is usually sufficient.
- Water deeply but infrequently once plants are established, as cleome has moderate drought tolerance and prefers soil that dries out slightly between waterings rather than staying constantly saturated.
- Allow some seed pods to mature and drop naturally at the end of the season if you want volunteer plants the following year. Cleome self-sows reliably and seedlings are easy to identify and transplant.
- Wear garden gloves when handling cleome plants, as the stems have small thorns at leaf nodes and the foliage produces a sticky, pungent substance that some people find irritating to bare skin.
Pick your Cleome
Queen Mix
The classic cleome series reaching four to five feet with large flower heads in rose, pink, purple, violet, and white.
Senorita Rosalita
A thornless, sterile hybrid growing three feet tall that blooms prolifically without self-sowing, ideal for tidy garden borders.
Spirit Appleblossom
A compact selection growing just three feet with soft pink and white bicolor flowers, suitable for smaller spaces.
Sparkler Blush
A dwarf variety reaching only two to three feet, perfect for containers and front-of-border placement with soft pink blooms.
Cleome is exceptionally cost-effective because a single packet of seeds costing $2-4 can produce 30-50 plants that grow up to 1.5 meters tall, filling large garden spaces with dramatic color for an entire season. Once established, cleome self-sows freely, providing an endless supply of volunteer seedlings in subsequent years at no additional cost. A comparable number of tall annual plants purchased as nursery transplants would cost $120-250, making seed-grown cleome one of the best values in the ornamental garden.
Quick recipes
Cleome Spider Flower Bouquet Arrangement
15 minutesCreate a stunning floral arrangement using freshly cut cleome stems. The tall, dramatic flower clusters make exceptional centerpieces and last well in water when harvested properly. Cut stems in the early morning when blooms are fresh and hydrated for the longest vase life of five to seven days.
5 ingredientsPressed Cleome Flower Botanical Art
20 minutes active plus 2-3 weeks dryingPreserve the intricate beauty of individual cleome florets by pressing them for use in botanical art, handmade cards, or framed displays. The delicate petals and dramatic stamens press beautifully and retain subtle color gradients from pink to white when dried properly between absorbent paper layers.
5 ingredients
Cleome Seed Saving and Sharing Packets
30 minutesHarvest and package cleome seeds from your garden for next season's planting or to share with fellow gardeners. Cleome produces abundant seeds in distinctive elongated pods that are easy to collect when they turn brown. Each pod contains dozens of small round seeds that remain viable for two to three years when stored properly.
5 ingredientsWhat's inside
Health Benefits
- Cleome species have been used in traditional African and Asian herbal medicine to treat headaches, inflammation, and ear infections, with leaf poultices applied externally to reduce swelling and discomfort.
- The leaves of Cleome gynandra, a closely related edible species, are rich in antioxidants including beta-carotene and ascorbic acid, which help protect cells from oxidative stress and support immune function.
- In traditional Ayurvedic and folk medicine practices, cleome preparations have been used to support digestive health and relieve stomach ailments, though scientific evidence is limited and consultation with a healthcare provider is recommended.
- Growing and tending cleome in the garden provides moderate physical exercise through planting, watering, and harvesting activities, supporting cardiovascular fitness and joint mobility for gardeners of all ages.
- The presence of cleome in the garden supports mental wellbeing by attracting hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators, creating a calming and restorative natural environment that reduces stress and promotes relaxation.
- Spending time among flowering cleome plants offers horticultural therapy benefits, as the sensory engagement of observing the intricate spider-like blooms and watching pollinator activity has been shown to lower cortisol levels and improve mood.
Where Cleome comes from
Cleome hassleriana, commonly known as spider flower, spider plant, or bee plant, is a vigorous annual flowering species belonging to the family Cleomaceae, which was formerly classified within the caper family Capparaceae. The species is native to the subtropical and temperate grasslands of southern South America, with its natural range spanning Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and the southernmost regions of Brazil. In its native habitat, cleome thrives in open meadows, disturbed ground, and along waterways where the soil is warm and well-drained.
The species was first formally described by the Swiss botanist Robert Chodat in 1898 and named in honor of the Swiss physician and botanist Emil Hassler, who extensively collected plant specimens in Paraguay during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. European and North American gardeners discovered cleome in the mid-1800s, and by the early 1900s it had become a popular cottage garden staple prized for its tall, dramatic stature and unusual spider-like blossoms.
Throughout the twentieth century, plant breeders developed numerous cultivars in an expanded palette of colors including deep rose, violet, pink, and pure white. The Queen series, introduced in the mid-twentieth century, remains among the most widely grown selections worldwide. More recently, breeders have created compact and thornless varieties such as the Senorita series, which offer tidier habits and lack the sticky foliage and small spines found on traditional cultivars. Today, cleome is grown on every inhabited continent as an ornamental annual, valued for its ability to attract pollinators, tolerate heat and drought once established, and provide architectural height in mixed borders and cutting gardens.
Cleome: did you know?
Fascinating facts about Cleome
Cleome is called spider flower because its extraordinarily long stamens and pistils extend far beyond the petals, resembling the legs of a spider radiating from the center of each bloom.
Cleome questions, answered
When should I plant Cleome?
What are good companion plants for Cleome?
What hardiness zones can Cleome grow in?
How much sun does Cleome need?
How far apart should I space Cleome?
What pests and diseases affect Cleome?
How do I store Cleome after harvest?
What are the best Cleome varieties to grow?
What soil does Cleome need?
Is cleome an annual or a perennial?
Why does my cleome smell unpleasant, and is there a way to reduce the odor?
How do I prevent cleome from self-sowing too aggressively?
Can cleome be grown successfully in containers?
Is cleome toxic to pets or children?
What are the best companion plants to grow alongside cleome?
You just read the theory. Now grow it on autopilot.
Everything that makes Cleome fiddly — the timing, the spacing, the companions, the harvest window — is exactly what PlotMyGarden handles for you, for every plant in your garden.
A plan that knows your weather
Set your location once. Get sow, feed and harvest dates built around your real last-frost date and live forecast — no more guessing from a generic seed packet.
From the “When to plant” sectionDrag-and-drop bed planner
Design beds on a grid. Every plant snaps to its proper spacing, and you can see your whole season laid out before you spend a cent on seed.
From the “Growing guide” sectionCompanion conflicts, caught early
200+ good-and-bad pairings checked live as you plant — so a season-wrecking mistake never makes it into the ground.
From the “Companions” sectionReminders you'll actually act on
“Water the beans.” “Pick today before it turns.” Timely, specific, and tied to the plants you're really growing.
From the “Harvest” sectionSuccession, scheduled
Want a harvest for six weeks, not six days? It spaces your sowings automatically and reminds you when each new block is due.
From the “When to plant” sectionA record that gets smarter
Every harvest you log teaches it your garden. Next year's plan starts from what actually worked in your soil, not a textbook's.
From the “Overview” sectionPlant these alongside Cleome
More Annuals
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