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Wild Spider Flower is an edible annual flower with deep African roots that has traveled across continents to become a beloved garden addition. Originally native to Africa, this variety of Cleome gynandra now thrives in gardens throughout Asia and beyond, reaching 40 inches tall in warm climates (zones 9-12). It produces delicate, lovely flowers alongside edible leaves with a distinctive bitter flavor reminiscent of mustard greens. Ready to harvest in just 30-39 days, it's a fast-growing bush that rewards gardeners with both visual beauty and culinary intrigue.
Full Sun
Moderate
9-12
40in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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This African native delivers something rare: ornamental grace paired with genuine edibility. The small, delicate flowers emerge on stems lined with 3 to 6 edible leaves per stem, each offering a bold, mustard-like bite that transforms salads and cooked dishes. Growing as a compact bush to 40 inches, it matures remarkably quickly, offering harvestable leaves within a month of planting. Its combination of visual charm and peppery flavor makes it a conversation starter in any garden.
The edible leaves are harvested fresh for salads, where their mustard-like bitterness adds complexity to greens mixes, or cooked gently like other leafy greens in stir-fries and traditional dishes. The delicate flowers themselves are also edible, offering visual appeal and subtle flavor to plates. Because leaves emerge continuously along each stem, a single planting provides sustained harvests throughout the growing season.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date. Keep soil warm and consistently moist until germination. Transplant seedlings to larger containers once they develop true leaves.
Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days. Transplant outdoors after all frost danger has passed and soil has warmed, spacing plants 12 inches apart with 24 inches between rows.
In zones 9-12, direct sow seeds outdoors after frost danger has completely passed and soil is warm. Plant seeds at the recommended depth and keep soil consistently moist until germination.
Begin harvesting leaves 30-39 days after planting once plants are actively growing and leaves are full-sized but still tender. Pinch off individual leaves from each stem or harvest entire stems by cutting just above a node to encourage branching and continued productivity. Pick leaves in the morning after dew has dried for best flavor and texture. Harvest frequently to encourage more leaf production throughout the season.
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“Wild Spider Flower originates from Africa, where it has been part of traditional gardening and food cultivation for generations. Its journey reflects the broader movement of African crops across continents, particularly into Asian gardens where it became established and widely embraced. Today it remains a living connection between African horticultural heritage and contemporary global gardening, preserved and propagated by seed savers and gardeners who recognize its unique value as both ornament and edible plant.”