The Wilson Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, 1806 S. Goldsboro Street, is pleased to announce September's Plant of the Month as Cleome hasslerana also called Cleome or Spider Flower. This annual is a re-seeder so it acts as a perennial in the garden.

Cleome has a palmate leaf which sort of looks like a Japanese Maple leaf. The stem can have tiny thorn-like spines at the base of each leaflet.

Cleome flowers numerous and can be rose-purple or white. It blooms continuously from May through October. One way it receives it's common name is by the long stamens which come out of the flower resembling a spider. The other spider like reference is from the long seed pods that dangle and looks like spider legs.

Cleome grows 3 to 4 feet tall and is more effective in a mass planting. Plant in full sun to partial shade. It also likes moisture which is a plus for this summer season.

This plant can be utilized in the garden as a background plant, cut flower or even as a temporary shrub.

For best seed germination, utilize alternative temperatures of 85 degrees F days and 70 F degrees nights and cover seed lightly. Here at the Garden we merely let it drop it's seeds and several come up each year.

One of the best attributes of Cleome is it is trouble free and easily grown. No insects or diseases to worry about. It also is an excellent annual for hot areas (which we are) and is quite vigorous compared to many other annuals.

Many cultivars are available if you desire a specific color 'Cherry Queen' has cherry-rose flowers, 'Helen Campbell' has white flowers, "Pink and Rose Queen' have, you guessed it, pink and rose color flowers, respectively.

The Wilson Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, at 1806 S. Goldsboro Street, is open from dawn until dusk. For more gardening information please check out my web site at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/wilson/staff/clauderd/index.html. This web site has all the plant of the month's with pictures. Come visit the garden!

Home gardening questions can be answered Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 until 3 PM by calling 237-0113 and speaking to a Master Gardener.

Date Created: 8/25/03.

Update: 8/25/03