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.