How Deep to Plant Cleome Seeds

Cleome, or spider flower, is a tall, summer-blooming plant that produces white, pink or purple flowers.

Cleome (Cleome lutea) is native to the United States and grows wild in every state. Some varieties are also known as spider flower, bladderpod and spiderwisp. More than a dozen varieties of annual and half-annual cleome can be successfully cultivated in the home garden. Cleome hybrid seeds are available commercially. Cleome blooms from summer to first frost in fall and is a colorful back-of-the-bed border in the flower garden.

Seeds

Cleome is known as a "volunteer" because seeds falling from the parent plant germinate and grow without any help from the gardener. To control volunteers, simply collect the seeds from existing plants. To establish cleome, purchase seeds from a reputable nursery. Planting instructions are usually on the package. Cleome seeds require little depth in planting. Drop the seeds where you want the plant to grow and rake just enough soil over the seeds to cover them. Seeds directly harvested from hybrid cleome plants may not produce plants exactly like the parent plant.

Planting Time

Cleome seeds withstand winter cold well, so you may plant them in the garden before first frost in the fall for spring growth. Start seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost of spring. Press the seeds into the potting soil with your fingers and water.

Care

Cleome grows 3 to 6 feet tall in all planting zones in the U.S. and prefers well-drained soil in full sun. The plant will tolerate some shade. Water new plants regularly until they are firmly established. Cleome can tolerate mild drought.

References

• National Gardening Association: Saving Seeds From Annuals and Perennials
• Old Fashioned Living: Growing the Spider Flower, Cleome
• Missouri Botanical Garden: Cleome Hassleriana

Resources

• North Carolina State University: Cleome Hasslerana
• USDA Plants Database: Cleome L.