Grandfather's Whiskers Cleome houtteana
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cleome hassleriana
- Cleome spinosa
- Tarenaya houtteana
- Phonetic Spelling
- klay-OH-me hoot-AH-na
- Description
-
The spider plant is a flowering annual plant in the Cleomaceae family native to Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and southeast Brazil.
The plants grow 3 to 6 feet tall in full sun to partial shade in moist well-drained soils. They are heat, humidity, drought and deer tolerant. .Propagation is by seed.
From summer to fall, the showy flowers appear in clusters. They are pink, purple and rarely white with 3-inch-long stamens giving them a spidery look. The musky odor, especially if planted in groups, is offensive to some.
Use spider plants in the border of or in groups in pollinator, cottage and drought-tolerant gardens
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Watch for spidermites, aphids, flea beetles and caterpillers. Diseases include rust and powdery mildew.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Sparkler Mix'
- 'Sparkler Mix'
- 'Sparkler Mix'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Sparkler Mix'
- 'Sparkler Mix'
- 'Sparkler Mix'
- Tags:
-
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cleome
- Species:
- houtteana
- Family:
- Cleomaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Brazil to Northern Argentina
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts many varieties of pollinators
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Elongate, cylindrical 2-valved fruit filled with numerous seeds
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Each 1–1½” wide individual flower on a 2-inch pedicel has 4 reflexed light green sepals, 4 clawed petals and 6 erect to spreading stamens that grow to 3-inches long with yellow-orange anthers giving it a spidery look.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- The lower and middle leaves are palmately compound with 5-7 leaflets and 6-8 inches long with tapered bases. Both surfaces are covered with hairs. The upper leaves are simple and smaller and are either sessile (no stem) or clasping to the stem.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Hairy
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Hairy stems with a pair of spiny stipules at the base of each leaf petiole
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Moths
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
- Humidity
- Rabbits
