How to Grow Spider Flower (Cleome Hasslerana)

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

Rate: (6 Ratings)

Elegant, airy spider flower is a striking plant to put at the back of the border or anyplace you need tall plants. Growing 3 to 6 feet, depending on growing conditions, this annual (grows just one year) has 4-inch clustered flower heads with elongated stamens and long seedpods. It comes in pink, lavender and white.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Step1
Buy healthy, green plants with no signs of wilting or disease. Plants should be stocky, with plenty of leaves.
Step2
Choose a site in full sun to partial shade with average to rich soil.
Step3
Plant seedlings in spring after all danger of frost has passed, spacing them 1 to 2 feet apart. Spider flower looks best in groups of eight or more.
Step4
Keep soil moist, especially in hot weather. Mulching is a good idea.
Step5
Stake plants located in windy or shady sites to prevent flopping.
Step6
Fertilize every six to eight weeks, or work in a slow-release fertilizer (or plenty of compost) at planting time.
Step7
Tear out and discard plants in fall, after frost fells them.

Tips & Warnings

  • Plant shorter, bushier plant varieties in front of spider flower plants to hide their long stalks, which get spindly in late summer.
  • Keep spider flower amply watered, especially in late summer. Otherwise, its growth may be stunted and it will flower less.

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eHow Article:  How to Grow Spider Flower (Cleome Hasslerana)

eHow Home & Garden Editor

eHow Home & Garden Editor

Category: Home & Garden

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