Spider flower 'Rose Queen' Cleome hassleriana 'Rose Queen'

Water

Spider flowers, including the 'Rose Queen' variety, require consistent moisture, especially during their growing season. They should be watered deeply once a week with about 1 inch of water, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. During hotter periods or times of drought, they may require more frequent watering, perhaps twice a week, to maintain soil moisture. Overhead watering is best done in the morning to allow foliage to dry out during the day, reducing the risk of fungal diseases. Always check the top inch of soil for dryness before watering again.

Light

Spider flowers thrive best in full sun exposure, needing at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. They will perform well when planted in an area that receives unfiltered sunshine throughout the day. Although they can tolerate partial shade, too much shade can lead to leggy growth and reduced flowering in 'Rose Queen' plants. For optimum growth and bloom production, a sunny spot without any shade is ideal.

Temperature

Spider flowers prefer warm temperatures and grow best in environments where daytime temperatures range between 70°F and 85°F. The 'Rose Queen' plant can tolerate a minimum temperature of around 40°F, but frost or prolonged exposure to temperatures below this can be damaging. They are heat tolerant and will continue to flower during high summer temperatures, but consistently low temperatures below the tolerance threshold can be detrimental to the plant's health.

Pruning

Pruning spider flowers is not typically necessary, but deadheading the spent blooms of 'Rose Queen' can promote bushier growth and more flowers. Pinching back the stems early in the season can also help in creating a more compact plant. The best time for pruning is after the initial flowering when you can cut back the plant by one-third to encourage a second flush of blooms. Regular removal of dead or faded flowers will keep the plant looking attractive throughout its blooming season.

Cleaning

As needed

Soil

Spider Flower thrives best in a well-draining soil mix with plenty of organic matter, ideally with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5 to promote healthy growth and flowering.

Repotting

Spider Flower does not typically require frequent repotting; it should be repotted every 2-3 years or when it outgrows its current container.

Humidity & Misting

Spider Flower does well in average humidity conditions and does not require any special humidity adjustments for optimal growth.

Suitable locations

• Indoor

  Place in bright, indirect light and ensure good air circulation for indoor Spider Flowers.

• Outdoor

  Plant in full sun to light shade and protect from strong winds for outdoor Spider Flowers.

• Hardiness zone

  2-11 USDA

Life cycle

Cleome hassleriana 'Rose Queen', commonly known as Spider Flower, begins its life cycle as a seed that germinates in spring when soil temperatures warm up. The seedling emerges and establishes itself with a rosette of leaves at ground level before sending up a central stem. During its vegetative growth stage, the plant develops a strong stem and a branching habit, with leaves that have a palmate shape. As it enters the flowering stage in early to midsummer, Spider Flower produces large, showy flowers with long, protruding stamens that give the blooms a spider-like appearance; these can be pink, rose, purple, or white depending on the variety. The plant continues to flower for several weeks, attracting pollinators, and after pollination, it develops seed pods that ripen towards the end of the growing season. Once mature, the seeds are dispersed, the annual plant dies off with the first frosts, and the cycle is ready to start again with the new seeds next spring.

Propogation

• Propogation time

  Spring-Early Summer

• Spider flower, commonly known as Cleome hassleriana 'Rose Queen', is often propagated through seeds. The ideal time for sowing Cleome seeds is in spring after the danger of frost has passed, ensuring a warm soil temperature that facilitates germination. To propagate, seeds should be scattered over prepared soil where they are to bloom since they do not transplant well. Gently press the seeds into the soil without covering them as they need light to germinate. Keep the soil evenly moist until germination, which usually takes about 10 to 14 days. Once seedlings are sufficiently grown, thin them to stand about 15 to 18 inches (approximately 38 to 46 centimeters) apart to allow for ample growing space.