Cleome Hassleriana The Annual Spider Flower
SPIDER FLOWER
This is certainly one of the most striking of all annuals. They branch widely and, at a height of 4 ft, tower above most other annuals. The flower heads, which appear between July and October, are huge – no less than 8 in in section and longer than they are wide. They also stretch in the course of flowering. Oblong seedpods are formed at their lower end, and – curiously – grow sideways on very thin stems. The stamens protrude so far that they resemble cat’s whiskers or spider’s legs. Both the flowers and the foliage are intensely fragrant.
Spider flower is a tender annual that grows up to 5 ft (1.5 m) in height. The palmate leaves are composed of 5 leaflets each 5-6 in (12.7-15 cm) long. The delicate flowers are held in cluster at the stem tips. Flowers are 1-2 in (2.5-5 cm) wide with long, 2-3 in (5-7.6 cm) graceful stamens that are the “legs” of this spidery flower. The buds at the lower end of the flower stem bloom first and then proceed sequentially toward the tip which continues to grow and extend over the course of the season. Slender seed pods quickly follow the flowers, hanging on long stems they are arranged around the stem like a bottlebush with limp bristles. Selections are available in a range of colors including white, pink, rose and lavender. Many varieties are colored when they bloom and then fade, some to white, over the course of a day. Named cultivars include ‘Violet Queen’, ‘White Queen’, ‘Rosea’, and ‘Alba’.
Although the stems are sturdy, they may begin to lean over under the weight of the entire plant and are sometimes given a support. If very thin bamboo canes are used for the purpose, they will be quite invisible after a while. Personally, though, I think a lop-sided spider flower looks particularly charming in a border. Palmate leaves grow on spiny leafstalks.
It is, perhaps, because of those spines that the spider flower is often called Cleome spin-osa, which is, in fact, a very similar species from South America. This ran wild in the tropics and may have contributed to the development of the cultivated varieties. The main difference between them is the color of the flowers.
The popularity of the Queen Series is presumably due to its restrained colors, which go well with other shades, and its trouble-free growth. Cleome hassleriana ‘Cerise Queen’ bears cherry-red flowers; Cleome hassleriana ‘Pink Queen’ has pale pink ones; those of Cleome hassleriana ‘Violet Queen’ are old rose with an intense shade of crimson; and those of Cleome hassleriana ‘White Queen’ are snowy white.
It is best to sow spider flowers indoors and to plant them out at intervals of about 20 in after mid-May. They like light but nutritive and humus-rich soil. In poor soil, liquid fertilizer may be given when the flowers first appear, to stimulate a more abundant and longer-lasting flowering season. The plants like warmth and sun and prefer to be sheltered from the wind. They are strong, though, and will also tolerate less favorable circumstances.
One of the usage of Usage Cleome hassleriana the spider flower is that it is use as a background plant and in borders. Also good in mixed shrub plantings to fill in while shrubs mature. Makes a durable container plant for patio or balcony. Remove spent blossoms to prolong flowering. You can shape spider flower plant to suit your tastes and design needs. For tall slender plants remove the side branches. For shorter, fuller plants remove the central bud when the plant is about 1 ft (0.3 m) tall to encourage side branching.
