Cleome spinosa Seeds | Spider Flower
LATIN NAME: Cleome spinosa
COMMON NAME: Spider Flower
Plant Profile
Cleome spinosa, better known as Spider Flower, is an upright, fast-growing, annual in the caper family. Spider flower carries its tall, open, airy clusters of small, pink, white or purple flowers, long stamens reaching out, and the whole plant stands in the upright, branching clumps. Together these qualities explain its long-standing appeal to gardeners.
Science & Biotechnology
Cleome spinosa sits in the caper family, a group that keeps botanists, horticulturists and plant breeders busy with questions of classification, adaptation and ornamental potential. Gardeners benefit directly from its long cultivation: what the plant will do in a garden is well understood.
Uses & Benefits
Spider Flower brings genuine presence to the garden and earns its keep across the growing season. Spider flower is a fine, bright plant of warm border and study collection. It is a fine, bright plant of open, sunny, deep, rich, moist, well-drained garden. Give young plants deep, rich, moist bed, and airy clusters will rise through warm months. It takes hold quickly and asks for no special treatment from then on.
Spider flowers are vigorous pollinator annuals; several species are traditional leaf vegetables and folk remedies in Africa and Asia, rich in glucosinolates like their cabbage kin.
Growing from Seed
Spider Flower grows readily from seed. Use a fine, free-draining seed compost, scatter the seed evenly, cover it lightly and hold it just moist in good light. Move strong seedlings into individual pots, keep them in good light, and set them out when the weather and their size agree.
Our Take
The medicinal tradition behind this species, outlined above, is a large part of its interest. Given the right start, Spider Flower is a long-term garden companion. What it needs is basic: sun, drainage, and a little patience while it establishes.
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