Guide to Growing Spider Flower, Beeplant, and African Cabbage

Cleome is a half hardy annual that can reach 90 cm to 1.2 M in height.

They flower from summer to late in the autumn and have pink, white or purple spiky flower heads.

Another name for members of the Clemone genus is Spider flower.

Cleome
Cleome by Twoblueday; Creative commons.

Cleome lutea by Matt Lavin.

Quick Cleome Growing and Care Guide

Common Names: Spider Flower, Beeplant, African Cabbage, Bladderpod, Spider Plant, Spider Legs, Grandfathers Whiskers, Stinking Clover.
Life Cycle: Half hardy annual. Half hardy perennial.
Height: 12 to 30 inches (30 to 75 cm).
Native: Worldwide tropic and subtropical areas.
Growing Region: Zones 2 to 10.
Flowers: Summer to autumn.
Flower Details: Pink, violet, yellow, white. Spiky. Fragrant.
Foliage: Dark green, black, bronze. Herbaceous. Ovate. Small thorns on the stem.
Sow Outside: Surface. Autumn. Spacing 16 to 24 inches (40 to 60 cm).
Sow Inside: Stratify seeds by putting in compost, moist soil, within a bag, and place in the fridge for two weeks. Germination time: nine days to two weeks. Temperature 70°F (21°C). Eight weeks before expected last frost. Transplant outdoors about three weeks after the last chance of frost, when minimum temperature does not drop below 41°F (5°C).
Requirements: Full sunlight or light shade. Soil pH 6 to 6.5. Ordinary soil. Light feed during vegetative growth. Regular watering.
Miscellaneous: Great to grow where deers are a pest as they do not like the taste.

How to Grow Spider flower and other Cleome

Cleome seeds grown outdoors should be sowed on the surface in a partially shaded or sunny area of the garden. They can grow in most soils that have a pH of 6 to 7. When planning on growing spider flower seedlings indoors first then the process should be started about one and a half months before you plan to put them out.

Germination takes about two weeks, but first seeds should be imbibed by placing the seeds (within soil) in a black bag, then placing in the fridge for two weeks. Seeds should then be sown out at a temperature of 21 to 24 Centigrade. Seedlings of Cleome should be planted out with a spacing of about 50 to 60 cm after the last frost of spring.

Caring for Cleome

Plants of the Cleome genus are easy to look after. They should be fertilized and watered whilst growing. Remove seed pods before they have chance to shatter.