Bee Plant Cleome
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- klay-OH-me
- Description
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Cleome is a genus in Cleomaceae (spider flower) family. This genus contains over 100 species and many cultivars. Cleome is a tall garden plant that can reach 6 feet tall but dwarf varieties are available making it useful for smaller gardens. In most areas it is grown as an annual, it grows quickly from seed and blooms all summer until frost. The large clusters of flowers bloom from bottom to top with attractive flowers with 3 inch long stamens giving them the name spider flower. The foliage may have a fetid odor and sticky feel due to glandular hairs. Some varieties will have prickles.
Spider flower grows best in full sun in moist, well-drained soil but will tolerate some drought. Avoid overwatering and over fertilizing this plant to prevent leggy growth. It can be pinched back in early summer to promote a bushier plant if desired.
Use this plant in the back of the border for the taller types, in masse plantings or interspersed with perennials for the mixed garden to provide season-long color.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Generally, few problems but aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies can be a problem. It is susceptible to powdery mildew and rust in hot, humid climates so don't crowd the plants.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cleome
- Family:
- Cleomaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Found all over the world
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract bees, humming birds and butterflies
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Prickles
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The capsule is an elongate, cylindrical 2-valved fruit filled with numerous seeds. Once the pods dry, they pop open to release the small round brown seeds
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long Bloom Season
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Plants bloom from early summer until frost in a dense, 6-8 inch wide, ever-lengthening terminal raceme. Each 1–1½” wide individual flower on a 2-inch stem 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. The petals may be white, pink, rose or purple.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Prickly
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- The alternate leaves are palmately compound with 5-7 leaflets tapered at the base (although the leaves on the upper parts of the stems are smaller and simple). Compound leaves are 6-8 inches across. The leaflets are oval to lanceolate and their margins are smooth or serrated. There are prickles on the midrib on the underside of the leaf and a pair of small spiny stipules at the base of each leaf petiole and glandular pubescence, making it slightly sticky with exudate and a fetid smell.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are light green and covered with long glandular hairs.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Patio
- Pool/Hardscape
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
