Grow spider flower in full sun and heat, in average soil that drains. Spider flower is Cleome — not a spider plant.
Give it full sun, heat, and soil that drains
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | Full sun, at least six hours | Do not site it in shade that stretches the stems and cuts bloom |
| Soil | Average, well-drained ground | Do not plant in a rich, wet low spot |
| Water | Regular water until the plant is established, then only in a long drought | Do not keep the bed constantly wet |
| Feed | Skip heavy fertilizer | Do not add extra feed that pushes weak, flopping stems |
Spider flower is a heat annual. Full sun packs a stiffer stalk, so the plant holds itself up; shade makes a tall, floppy plant with fewer flowers. [1] Average soil that drains is enough. Overwatering and overfertilizing are the usual cause of weak, leggy growth. [2] The plant takes summer heat and short dry spells once the taproot is in. [3] Helen Campbell wants that same sun. So does Señorita Rosalita.
How much sun does spider flower need?
Full sun, at least six hours. Shade stretches the stems and cuts bloom.
Water a new plant, then only in a long drought
Keep the bed moist — not soggy — until the plant is established. After that, water in a long dry spell. Constant wet plus extra fertilizer is the usual flop. [4]
- Water in after planting, and keep the root zone moist until new growth shows.
- Then water only in a long drought. Do not keep the bed wet on a calendar.
- Add a thin mulch, and keep it off the stems.
- Do not pile on fertilizer. Average soil is the aim.
How often should I water spider flower?
Keep a new plant moist until it is established. Then water only in a long drought. Do not keep the bed constantly wet.
Grow a compact kind in a draining pot
A compact Sparkler or a Señorita can sit in a large pot with drainage holes. A five-foot Queen is a better bet in the ground. Use a potting mix that drains, and water when the top of the mix is dry.
- Pick a compact kind, not a five-foot Queen, for a patio pot.
- Use a pot at least 12 inches wide with drainage holes.
- Fill with potting mix that drains. Do not use garden soil that stays wet.
- Water when the top of the mix is dry. Do not leave the pot standing in a saucer of water.
Can I grow spider flower in a pot?
A compact Sparkler or Señorita can sit in a large draining pot. A five-foot Queen is a better bet in the ground.
Pinch young stems, and pull seed pods if you do not want volunteers
Pinch the growing tip while the plant is young if you want a shorter, bushier habit. Spent blooms do not need deadheading — new flowers open up the stalk. On a seed type, pull the long seed pods as they form if you do not want seedlings next spring. Wear gloves on Queen stems; they are sticky and often spiny.
- Pinch the tip once the seedling has a few sets of true leaves, if you want side branches.
- Leave spent flowers on the stalk. Bloom moves upward on its own.
- Pull seed pods while they are still green if you do not want volunteers. Leave a few only if you want seedlings next year.
- Do not cut the plant to the ground in midsummer.
Do I need to deadhead cleome?
No. New flowers open up the stalk. Pull seed pods only if you do not want volunteers next year.
Not a spider plant, and not a spider lily
A spider plant is Chlorophytum — a houseplant with grassy leaves and hanging plantlets. See How to Grow Spider Plant. A spider lily is Lycoris — a fall bulb on a bare stem. See How to Grow Spider Lily. Grevillea is a woody shrub sometimes sold as spider flower; that care is on How to Grow Grevillea. For which Cleome you bought, see Types of Cleome.
Is spider flower the same as a spider plant?
No. Spider flower is Cleome, a summer annual. A spider plant is Chlorophytum, a houseplant.
If the stems flopped, skip fertilizer and let the bed dry between waterings.
FAQ
Does spider flower come back next year?
It is a tender annual. Queen types self-sow. Señorita is sterile, so you buy a new plant. Frost kills the top.
Why are the lower stems bare?
Older kinds drop lower leaves as the season runs. Plant something shorter in front. That is normal, not a water problem.
Does it get aphids or mildew?
Aphids, mites, and powdery mildew can show up in hot, humid weather. Space the plants so air moves, and wipe aphids off when you see them.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC -
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/cleome-or-spider-flower/ - [2] Wisconsin Horticulture -
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/spider-flower-cleome-hassleriana/ - [3] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/cleome-houtteana/ - [4] N.C. Cooperative Extension, Union County -
https://union.ces.ncsu.edu/news/the-spider-flower/
This note is part of Cleome Guides.
More first-season notes by plant are gathered in How to Grow Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors