Description

CLEOME MIX (Cleome hassleriana), also known as Spider Flower, was brought to England from the West Indies in 1817. The stems are thorny, the leaves are spirally arranged, and the unusual flowers are followed by 3"-4" seedpods which resemble spider legs in the way they arrange themselves on the stem. This is a mix of 4 colors: white, pink, rose and violet. Very easy to grow. Self-seeding, half-hardy annual. Mine are the joy of the flower bed they inhabit, both for the elegance they bring and also because they attract the much-favored Green Lynx Spider - such a powerhouse insectivore that it is now cultivated by growers as a natural pest protector. So if you see one of them (see photo below) leave it be. It is not aggressive toward people, just nasty bugs. 3'-4' tall, though some of mine routinely grow as high at 6'. Talk about magnificent. 100 seeds.

GROWING TIPS: Sow outside after last frost, putting seeds just below surface of soil. Will germinate in 10-14 days. Prefers a rich light soil in full sun or very light shade. Will tolerate drought. Self seeds handily.