FLOWER-CLEOME (SPIDER FLOWER)
FLOWER-CLEOME (SPIDER FLOWER)
A$3.50
Availability: 18 in stock
Cleome hassleriana
FLOWER-CLEOME (SPIDER FLOWER)
Believed to originate from the West Indies it is now found in many tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world. Known by many names- cat’s whiskers, grandfathers whiskers, spider legs and said to deter deer and rabbits due to its unusual smell something like citronella. Used by native American Indian for medicinal purposes. Leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, seeds can be eaten raw or ground into flower. Versatile plant used for making dyes, paint, soap and deodorant, it grows to approx. 1.5 meters with purple, pink or white petals with 6 stamen.
Plant after last frost. Sprinkle on fertile well drained soil and cover lightly as seeds need sun and warmth to sprout. Germinates in 10 to 14 days, but they can take longer. Thin out to 20cm apart. Drought and heat tolerant they are prolific re-seeders, so remove flower heads before the turn to seed.

Scoville Heat Units (SHU)
Plant Height
90 - 120
Season of Interest
Summer
Temperature Range
20 - 30
Determine / Indeterminate
Annual / Perennial / Biennial
Annual
Frost Hardy / Tender
Tender
Full Sun / Part Sun / Shade
Full Sun
Sow Direct / Raise Seedlings
Sow Direct / Raise Seedlings
Soil
Well Drained,Fertile Soil
pH
6 - 7
Soil Temperature
20 - 25
Seed Preparation
No special preparation required
Sowing Depth
3
Plant Spacing
31 - 45
Row spacing
46 - 60
Watering
Regular watering
Germination Time (Days)
8 - 14
Harvest Time (Days)
Cut as desired for floral arrangements
Good Companion Plants
Salvia (Salvia spp.), Marigolds (Tagetes spp.), Zinnias (Zinnia spp.), Cosmos (Cosmos spp.), Nicotiana (Nicotiana spp.), Verbena (Verbena spp.), Sunflowers (Helianthus spp.), Gomphrena (Gomphrena spp.)
Bad Companion Plants
Plants from the Brassica family (e.g. broccoli, cabbage), Legumes (e.g. beans, peas), Nightshades (e.g. tomatoes, peppers)
Pests
Diseases
Powdery mildew, Rust, Leaf spot, Downy mildew, Stem cankers.,
More About Us
When I started this journey in 2009, I found nothing existed commercially, that was reasonably priced and easy to use. There was a homemade system which I also found was not that user-friendly.
Then a friend of mine told me about a homemade method she used. However, when I tried her method, I found this also didn’t suit my needs, as it too had flaws that I considered where important. It did not keep vermin out, did not have a lockable lid and (to me) looked unsightly in the garden