While it is a little early to march out the summer annuals, the seed racks and catalogs are presently abundant with fresh 2025 seeds and inspiration to boot! One annual flowering plant that may be of interest is called cleome or spider flower because of its flower form and numerous leg-like, wiry seed pods. I used to grow these for my aunt up north each year as part of her summer flower garden. Cleome do equally well here in Florida and are particularly well suited to our hot summers.
Cleome, known for their whimsical flower heads, can be white, pink, or purple in color. It’s often called “spider flower” because of the form of its flowers and their associated thin, spidery seed pods. The older types of cleomes are fairly tall – up to five feet. These types also have some thorns which you need to be aware of. Some good cultivars to look for that you might find on seed racks include ‘Cherry Queen’, ‘Mauve Queen’, ‘Pink Queen’, ‘Purple Queen’, ‘Rose Queen’, and ‘Ruby Queen’. While these cultivars all grow to four to five feet in height, for something shorter, try ‘Linde Armstrong’™, a pink-flowering cultivar that grows only eighteen to twenty-four inches tall. Several other taller cultivars with good characteristics to consider are ´Señorita® Rosalita´ featuring rose pink flowers, ´Señorita® Blanca´ known for pure white flowers, and ´Señorita® Mi Amor´ with pink flowers, all noted for lack of thorns, no seedpods (sterile), and non-odorous nature. Some cleome varieties can feel sticky to the touch and are associated with an unpleasant – some call it skunky – scent. Fortunately, thanks to breeding efforts, we not only have shorter cultivars, but also thornless and odor-free types available. A few other improved cultivars include the ‘Sparkler™’ series with blush pink/white and lavender flowers, and the ‘Spirit™’ series available in white, pink-purple, and pale pink to white flowers.
It is often hard to find a flowering annual that will endure and thrive in our toasty summers. Cleome love these conditions and do best in well-drained soil with full sun conditions. Just like many plants, they can take some shade but not so much that it negatively effects flower production. You can start this annual by directly seeding into them into the garden bed or using previously grown transplants. The seeds are small, so plant them according to the seed pack directions. If they are direct seeded, you must mercilessly thin them to get the proper distance between seedlings to ensure mature plants have at least one foot of space between them. Please note that, while cleomes can be tall, this can offer height to any flower bed. Just make sure that they are situated so that they do not shade out the shorter plants. The advantage of keeping cleomes in the back is also in consideration of their flowering habit. The first blooms appear at the bottom and then work on up as they grow. This nature eventually leaves a bare stem at the bottom. As such, flowering plants of the right height situated in front of cleomes will help cover-up these naked areas. Cleome also do well as container plants.
Although cleome is noted as an aggressive plant as far as its seed production and volunteer plants, it is not presently considered a problem species by the UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas. While pests are few with cleome, I have had a whitefly infestation become problematic in the past. Treating whiteflies when the population is small using insecticidal soap as per label directions is very effective. There is also a stemborer in the area that can cause wilting at the tip ends, so be on the lookout by monitoring regularly.
Bottom-line, include some cleomes in your summer flower bed for heat-tolerant annuals worthy of their fair share of space. They will add color, texture, and a conversation starter to any landscape! For more information on growing all types of annual flowering plants in our area, or to ask a question, you can also call the Master Gardener Volunteer Helpdesk on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1 to 4 pm at 764-4340 for gardening help and insight into their role as an Extension volunteer. Ralph E. Mitchell is the Director/Horticulture Agent for UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County. He can be reached at 941-764-4344 or ralph.mitchell@charlottecountyfl.gov. Connect with us on social media. Like us on Facebook @CharlotteCountyExtension and follow us on Instagram @ifascharco.
Resources:
UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions (2024) Cleome. The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.
Busbee, L., Andrews, F. & Criss, J. (2022) The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS – Santa Rosa County
UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas. (2025). The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.
Cleome Señorita Rosalita® ‘Inncleosr’. (2025) North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. N.C. Cooperative Extension.
Smith, B. H. (2022) Cleome or Spider Flower. Clemson Cooperative Extension.
Mahr, S. (2025) Spider flower, Cleome hassleriana. Wisconsin Horticulture Division of Extension.
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