Thomas Jefferson loved the beautiful flower trusses of tall cleome in his renowned flower gardens at Monticello. Today, these vigorous summer flowers are treasured in heirloom and restoration gardens. The 4 to 5 foot plants are crowned with huge flower clusters of pale pink, crisp white and rose-violet florets. Cleome’s unique blossoms with their long petals and spidery stamens are favorites of nectar-seeking hummingbirds. They make striking large arrangements when the long stems of bloom are brought indoors. 

(Cleome spinosa)

Product Weight: 3grams / approximately 1925 seeds

Plant Type: Annual

Bloom Color: Pink

Grows Best In: Full Sun

Bloom Period:  Summer / Fall

Growth Habit: bush

Days to Seed Germination: 12-28 days

Seed Planting Depth: 3 mm (1/8")

Growing Height: 120-150 cm (4-5')

Planting Instructions:

TO START OUTDOORS

In spring when all danger of frost is past and weather is warm and settled, sow seeds in a well-worked, fertile seed bed in full sun. Space seeds 2 to 3 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart, cover about 1/8 inch deep and firm soil gently. Keep soil evenly moist while awaiting germination in 12 to 28 days.

TO START EARLY INDOORS

Four to five weeks before last frost date, sow seeds 1/8 inch deep and 2 to 3 inches apart in a container of seed starting mix. Keep warm and moist and provide a strong light source until seedlings are ready to plant outdoors. Seeds germinate best when day and night temperatures vary 10 to 20°. Thin or transplant seedlings 12 to 14 inches apart to give the large plants room to mature.

GROWING NOTES

Tall old-fashioned Cleome is perfect to plant at the back of the border or in a cut flower garden combined with phlox, asters, snapdragons, cosmos or zinnias. Keep young plants well watered and weeded, and they will mature to handle dry heat or humid weather well and bloom all summer long.