Spider flower (Cleome) at Dallas Arboretum in Texas

Cleome ‘Senorita Mi Amor’ at Univ. of Tennessee Gardens, Knoxville, TN

Spider flowers (Cleome x hybrida) are top performing summer flowering annuals. Each year plant breeders introduce compact varieties to beautify flower beds and container gardens. Select among vegetative and seed produced types.

Spider flowers ask for weekly watering and full day sunlight (best)  to achieve maximum blooming potential. They will grow in a partially shaded beds but bloom less and the plants tend to stretch.

Cleomes grow in average soil that is well-drained. Amending the soil with compost at planting and mulching are highly recommended to keep them highly floriferous. Rated as moderately drought tolerant, spider flowers prosper under weekly irrigation. Before planting work in lots of compost into garden soil or container media; broadcast a slow release fertilizer over the entire bed.

By mid-summer heavy feeding plants, particularly those in containers, become nutritionally deficient. Bottom leaves are first to turn yellow and bloom count becomes more sparse. Summer- feed container plants twice monthly with a water soluble fertilizer such as Miracle-Gro®, Peters®, or Schultz® at label rates.

Spider flowers are highly disease and pest resistant. Low compact forms require no staking compared to old-fashioned tall varieties that your grandmother used to grow.

Leading Cleome hybrids are:

Cleome Clio Magenta – 18 – 36 inches tall and 12 – 24 inches spread violet spider-like flowers with pink overtones.

Senorita Rosalita – 24 – 48 inches tall and 18 – 24 inches wide; do not self seed, keeps its lower foliage all season long; not prickly.

Sparkler series -reach 3 1/2 – 4 feet tall; plants are vigorous, and bloom heavily from spring to early fall; choice of white, blush and        lavender.