Spider Flower Cleome Hassleriana

Description

• This 3- to 6-foot-tall annual produces sticky green leaves, which give off a sweet aroma. Each leaf has a thorn at its base. The blossoms reach 1 to 2 inches wide, with stamens 2 to 3 inches long giving the flower a spidery appearance. The pink, purple or white flowers appear from summer through fall.

Care Tips

• This low-maintenance annual grows best in good-draining soil with full to part sun exposure. Let the soil dry out between watering sessions. If growing the spider flower in a container, use a soil mixture of 1 part peat moss, 1 part coarse sand and 2 parts potting soil. Deadhead or remove the developing seed pods right away. This flower will self-seed itself everywhere in the yard if the seeds are not removed.

Propagation

• Spider flowers grow best when planted by seed. The seeds can be started indoors six to eight weeks before the last spring frost date or sown directly in the garden after all danger of frost has passed. Collect seed pods from favorite varieties growing in the garden in the fall and save the seeds for planting the next spring.

Pest Control

• These tropical flowers do not suffer from any major garden pests or plant disease. Mildew can develop if the leaves are left wet after watering. Aphids, spider mites and whiteflies hide under the leaves sometimes, so inspect the plant every couple of weeks. If these small pests are noticed, then spray the plants down with a strong stream of water to knock the pests off. Keep up the water treatment every week until the pests have disappeared.