Spider Flower (Cleome hassleriana) is a fast-growing tender perennial that brings theatrical drama to gardens with its distinctive spiky blooms stretching 24 to 48 inches tall. Named for its long, delicate stamens that resemble spider legs, this plant erupts in showy pink flowers from June through frost, creating firework-like explosions of color that rise higher and higher throughout the season. Hardy in Zones 9-10 and grown as an annual in cooler regions, it reaches maturity in about 75 days and tolerates heat, drought, and poor soil with minimal fuss. The Señorita Rosalita cultivar is particularly prized for its thornless stems, lack of sticky foliage, and superior disease resistance compared to other cleomes.
12
Partial Sun
Moderate
9-10
48in H x 24in W
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Moderate
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Spider Flower commands attention with its leggy stems topped by clusters of pink flowers that tower above surrounding plantings, creating vertical interest that few annuals can match. This variety is virtually maintenance-free once established, tolerating both drought and rabbit pressure while attracting butterflies and hummingbirds throughout the growing season. The Señorita Rosalita selection eliminates common cleome drawbacks: no thorns to prick your hands, no unpleasant smell, no sticky residue on foliage, and no invasive seedpods cluttering the garden.
Spider Flower serves as a dramatic focal point or tall backdrop in annual beds and borders, where its airy, vertical growth habit adds structure without blocking views of shorter plantings. The showy pink flowers draw beneficial pollinators, making it valuable in gardens designed to support butterflies and hummingbirds. Its drought tolerance and ability to thrive in average, well-drained soils make it particularly useful in water-conscious gardens or difficult spots where other plants struggle.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed. Space plants 12 inches apart.
Direct sow seeds outdoors after the last frost date in your region.
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“Cleome belongs to a genus of roughly 150 species native to tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, though the exact origin of the genus name remains unknown. The Señorita Rosalita cultivar represents modern breeding work aimed at improving upon wild cleomes by removing the thorns, odor, and sticky foliage that made earlier varieties challenging garden companions. This sterile cultivar cannot reseed in the garden, giving gardeners complete control over where it appears year to year.”