(Cleome houtteana ‘Spider Plant’)

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Spider Plant is an annual flower native to South America but grows in prairies, plains, meadows, and woodlands throughout the southern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 40” and features a rigid hairy stem, 6-8” aromatic palm-shaped hairy leaves, and 1-1 1/2” spidery flowers that range in 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.

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