Spider Flower

Spider Flower (Cleome hassleriana)

Cleome, Rocky Mountain Bee Plant

Full sun, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils; tolerates poor sandy or loamy soils; pH 6.0–7.0.

3–5 feet tall, 1–2 feet wide; blooms June through frost with spidery pink, purple, or white flower heads 4–6 inches across; spreads prolifically by self-seeding.

Propagation: direct sow after last frost; cold-stratify seeds 2 weeks for improved germination rate; self-seeds so aggressively that deadheading is needed to limit spread.

Native region: Not native to Tennessee; ornamental introduction from South America.

In Middle Tennessee's Zone 6b/7a climate, C. hassleriana behaves as a reliable warm-season annual, germinating quickly once soil temps exceed 60°F and blooming continuously through October. The sticky, glandular stems and foliage emit a pungent scent that deer and most browsing animals avoid. An excellent pollinator plant — hummingbirds, swallowtail butterflies, and native bees work the flowers heavily from June onward. Allow one or two plants to go to seed if a self-sustaining colony is desired; otherwise remove seed pods before they split to prevent it from crowding out neighboring plants. Stem height can exceed 5 feet in rich, moist soils — site accordingly and avoid overfertilizing.