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How to Grow Spider Flower (Cleome Hasslerana)

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(9 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.

Difficulty: Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  1. Step 1

    Buy healthy, green plants with no signs of wilting or disease. Plants should be stocky, with plenty of leaves.

  2. Step 2

    Choose a site in full sun to partial shade with average to rich soil.

  3. Step 3

    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.

  4. Step 4

    Keep soil moist, especially in hot weather. Mulching is a good idea.

  5. Step 5

    Stake plants located in windy or shady sites to prevent flopping.

  6. Step 6

    Fertilize every six to eight weeks, or work in a slow-release fertilizer (or plenty of compost) at planting time.

  7. Step 7

    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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