(Cleome houtteana ‘Spider Plant’)

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Spider Plant is an annual flower that is native to South America but can be commonly found growing in prairies, plains, meadows, and woodlands throughout the southern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 40” and features an erect rigid hairy stems, 6-8” aromatic palm-shaped hairy leaves, and 1-1 1/2” spidery flowers that range in the colors of white, pink, and purple. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, provides bird forage, tolerates rabbits, and self sows.  

  • General Information
  • ​Starting Spider Plant Seeds
  • Crop Care
  • Harvesting
  • Seed Saving
  • Companion Planting
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​Family: Cleomaceae

Genus: Cleome

Species: houtteana​

Variety: Spider Plant

Also Known As: Spider flower, Spider plant, Pink queen, or Grandfather's whiskers.

Native to: Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, Paraguay, Uruguay.

Introduced into: Alabama, Arkansas, Bangladesh, Cameroon, China South-Central, China Southeast, Colombia, Connecticut, Cuba, District of Columbia, East Himalaya, Ecuador, Florida, Georgia, Hainan, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Jamaica, Kentucky, KwaZulu-Natal, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nepal, New Jersey, New South Wales, New York, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, North Carolina, Northern Provinces, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Queensland, Québec, Rhode I., South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Venezuela, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

Ease of Growing: Easy

Grown as: Annual
 
Maturity (Blooms): Early summer up until first frost.​

Light: Full Sun

Soil Moisture: Dry to medium moisture, well drained.

Suitability: Drought tolerant. Cut flowers.

Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Attracts Butterflies, Hummingbirds, and also tolerates rabbits.

Containers: Yes. Shorter cultivars can be used in large containers.​

Height: 40"
 
Spacing: 18-24"

​Sow Depth: 1/4-3/4"
 
USDA Zone: 1-12 Annual
                      10-12 Perennial

Produces: an erect rigid hairy stems, 6-8” aromatic palm-shaped hairy leaves, and 1-1 1/2” spidery flowers that range in the colors of white, pink, and purple.

Spring Planting

​For spring planting, mix the seed with moist sand and store it in the refrigerator for 30 days before direct sowing. Keep the soil evenly moist until germination, which should occur within 30-35 days. Seeds can also be started indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost of spring; plant the seeds on the surface of a flat, keeping the moisture consistent and the temperature around 70 degrees F.

Fall Planting

​Direct sow in late fall, planting the seed just below the surface of the soil; these seeds need light to germinate. 
Water the plants regularly until they become established. Mature plants tolerate heat and drought well, and should not need watering unless the soil becomes very dry. Remove tips of the developing stems to encourage branching and bushy growth. Since this plant can become aggressive in its reseeding, deadhead spent blossoms. If aphids threaten the plants, discourage them by spraying them off with a stream of water; repeat until they have gone. This plant attracts birds, hummingbirds, and butterflies as well as deterring rabbits.
​Spider Plant makes a good cut flower, though the entire plant does have a unique fragrance that some find unappealing. Watch out for the thorns on the underside of the leaves and on the stems.
After the flowers fade, the plant will produce thin 2" pods that ripen to a light brown; the ripe seed will also be light and dark brown. Remove the pods as soon as they ripen to prevent loss, since they will eventually split and release their seed. Spread out the pods away from direct sunlight to dry completely. Split the dry pods open and remove the seed. Store the cleaned seed in a cool, dry place.
Spider Plant is an excellent companion to zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers, black-eyed Susans, and dahlias.

Suggested Varieties

(Rudbeckia hirta 'Black-Eyed Susan')

Black-Eyed Susan is a native tender perennial flower that is commonly found growing in fields, woods, prairies, and along roadsides throughout the eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 1-3' and features 3-7” hairy lance-shaped leaves, 3” daisy-like flowers that have orange to yellow petals and a brown dome center. This plant attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, tolerates drought and light frost, is resistant to deer, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
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(Cosmos sulphureus ‘Bright Lights’)

Bright Lights Cosmos Mix is an annual warm-weather flower is that is native to Mexico, but can commonly be found growing in fallow fields, and along roadsides and railroads throughout the southern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 1-3' and features narrowly divided, slightly hairy green foliage and 2-3” yellow, orange, or red semi-double flowers with wide, scallop-edged petals and yellow centers. This plant attracts bees, birds, butterflies, ladybugs, pollinating moths, and predatory wasps, tolerates drought, self sows, and is great as a cut flower! 
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(Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Candy Stripe’)

Candy Stripe Cosmos is an annual warm-weather flower is that is native to Mexico, but can commonly be found growing throughout the southern and northeastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 3-6' and features finely divided, feathery green foliage and 2-3” flowers with yellow centers and wide, scallop-edged white petals edged with dark pink. This plant attracts bees, birds, butterflies, ladybugs, pollinating moths, and predatory wasps, tolerates drought, self sows, and is great as a cut flower! 
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(Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Radiance’)

Radiance Cosmos is an annual warm-weather flower is that is native to Mexico, but can commonly be found growing along roadsides and railroads throughout the southern and northeastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 3-6' and features finely divided, feathery green foliage and 2-3” flowers with yellow centers and wide, scallop-edged petals of medium pink that darkens to bright pink or fuchsia at the center. This plant attracts bees, birds, butterflies, ladybugs, pollinating moths, and predatory wasps, tolerates drought, self sows, and is great as a cut flower! 
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(Helianthus annuus ‘Autumn Beauty’)

Autumn Beauty Sunflower is a native annual flower that can be commonly found growing in dry areas of meadows, plains, and prairies throughout every region of the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 5-6' and features hairy stems, hairy heart-shaped green leaves, and 4-6” flowers that bloom in autumn colors such as yellow, orange, red, bronze, or mahogany. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, birds, and butterflies, is resistant to rabbits, is a great trap crop for aphids, is both edible and medicinal, tolerates drought, makes dye, and is great as a cut flower! 
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(Helianthus annuus ‘Dwarf Sungold’)

Dwarf Sungold Sunflower is a native annual plant that can be commonly found growing in dry areas of meadows, plains, and prairies throughout every region of the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-3' and features hairy stems, hairy heart-shaped dark green leaves, and 5” golden yellow aromatic flowers that resemble pompons. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, birds, and butterflies, is resistant to rabbits, is a great trap crop for aphids, is both edible and medicinal, tolerates drought, makes dye, and is great as a cut flower! 
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(Helianthus annuus ‘Mammoth’)

Mammoth Sunflower is a native annual plant that can be commonly found growing in dry areas of meadows, plains, and prairies throughout every region of the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 8-12' and features hairy stems, hairy heart-shaped dark green leaves, and 12-24” yellow flower heads. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, birds, and butterflies, is resistant to rabbits, is a great trap crop for aphids, is both edible and medicinal, tolerates drought, and makes dye! 
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(Tithonia rotundifolia ‘Mexican’)

Mexican Sunflower is an annual flower that is native to Mexico but can be commonly found growing throughout Louisiana and Florida. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 4-6' and features 3-12” lobed dark green leaves, and 3” orange-red flowers that have orange-yellow disks. This plant attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, and is great as a cut flower! 
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(Helianthus annuus ‘Velvet Queen’)

Velvet Queen Sunflower is a native annual plant that can be commonly found growing in dry areas of meadows, plains, and prairies throughout every region of the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 3-4' and features hairy stems, hairy heart-shaped dark green leaves, and 4-6” flower in shades of bronze, red, and mahogany with dark centers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, birds, and butterflies, is resistant to rabbits, is a great trap crop for aphids, is both edible and medicinal, tolerates drought, and makes dye! 
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(Zinnia elegans ‘Canary Bird’)

Canary Bird Zinnia is an annual flower that is native to Mexico but can be found growing in the southern and eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-3' and features hairy upright branching stems, 5” lance-shaped green leaves, and 4-5” bright yellow dahlia-type flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, earwigs, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, self sows, and is great as a cut flower! 
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(Zinnia elegans ‘Cherry Queen’)

Cherry Queen Zinnia is an annual flower that is native to Mexico but can be found growing in the southern and eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-3' and features hairy upright branching stems, 5” lance-shaped green leaves, and 4-5” bright red dahlia-type flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, earwigs, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!  
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(Zinnia elegans ‘Exquisite’)

Exquisite Zinnia is an annual flower that is native to Mexico but can be found growing in the southern and eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-3' and features hairy upright branching stems, 5” lance-shaped green leaves, and 4-5” bright red dahlia-type flowers that fade to soft rose pink. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, earwigs, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, self sows, and is great as a cut flower! 
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(Zinnia elegans ‘Luminosa’)

Luminosa Zinnia is an annual flower that is native to Mexico but can be found growing in the southern and eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-3' and features hairy upright branching stems, 5” lance-shaped green leaves, and 4-5” bright pink dahlia-type flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, earwigs, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!  
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(Zinnia elegans ‘Orange King’)

Orange King Zinnia is an annual flower that is native to Mexico but can be found growing in the southern and eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-3' and features hairy upright branching stems, 5” lance-shaped green leaves, and 4-5” bright orange dahlia-type flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, earwigs, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, self sows, and is great as a cut flower! 
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(Zinnia elegans ‘Polar Bear’)

Polar Bear Zinnia is an annual flower that is native to Mexico but can be found growing in the southern and eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-3' and features hairy upright branching stems, 5” lance-shaped green leaves, and 4-5” bright white dahlia-type flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, earwigs, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, self sows, and is great as a cut flower! 
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