Even after its blooms fade, the long, narrow seedpods add interest to the garden.
Be sure to place them in an area that receives full sunlight most of the day.
Keep the soil consistently moist as the seeds germinate.
Credit: Matthew Benson
They should begin to sprout within a week or two.
Once seedlings emerge, thin them out until they are about 8 inches apart.
The plants need plenty of air circulation to avoid issues with pests anddiseases.
Credit: Julie Maris Semarco
Tamp down the soil gently and then water the plants thoroughly.
Spider Flower Care Tips
Spider flower is aprolific bloomerthat produces a lot of seeds.
When the plants thin seedpods ripen and burst open, their tiny seeds scatter about the garden.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
They are not considered invasive, but if left unchecked, spider flower plants can grow profusely.
Light
Plant spider flower infull sunfor a dense habit and the best floral display.
While your spider flower plants are getting established, keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy.
A 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch helps retain soil moisture and blocks volunteer plants from emerging.
The plant is not frost-tolerant and usually dies when the temperature drops below 30F.
Fertilizer
Spider flower requires little, if any fertilizeroverfertilization can lead to leggy plants.
Credit: Quentin Bacon
However, when grown in a container, slow-release fertilizer supports its prolific blooming habits.
Trim dead or damaged leaves using sharp shears to snip them where they join the stem.
Some older varieties of spider flower may lose their lower foliage as they mature.
Credit: Jon Jensen
Place shorter species around the taller plant to disguise those bare stems and achieve a fuller look.
The plants blooms make beautiful cut flowers if the smell does not offend you.
Choose a large pot and fill it with fresh, well-draining potting soil.
Credit: Mike Jensen
You may need to water container-grown spider flowers more often than those grown in the ground.
To encourage blooming, give your container-grown spider flower a dose of slow-release fertilizer during the growing season.
Repotting should not be necessary as spider flower is anannualand will not last more than one growing season.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Pests and Problems
Rabbits and deer typically avoid spider flower.
However, you may find the occasional cabbageworm orflea beetledining on your spider flowers foliage.
Overcrowding also leads to leaf spot, downy mildew, powdery mildew, and dust.
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
These diseases also arise if spider flower is too wet.
Plenty of air circulation and avoidance of overhead watering prevent these problems from occurring.
you’ve got the option to store them in an airtight container until the following spring.
Shorter varieties are better suited to containers and the front or middle of the garden.
Helen Campbell Spider Flower
CleomeHelen Campbell bears pure white flowers on tall, 4-foot stems.
Senorita Rosalita Spider Flower
CleomeSenorita Rosalita bears lavender-pink flowers on a more heat-resistant 4-foot-tall plant.
Violet Queen Spider Flower
CleomeViolet Queen produces lavender-purple flowers on 4-foot-tall plants.
The simple, daisy-like flowers appear in cheery shades on tall stems that are great for cutting.
The lacy foliage makes a great backdrop for shorter plants, as well.
Sow cosmos seeds directly into the ground in spring or start with established seedlings.
Cosmos does best with average moisture but will tolerate drought.
Some varieties are sweetly fragrant when open.
Like spider flower, moonflower is also heat- and drought-resistant.
Plant it outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and give it moderate moisture and fertilizer.
Note that moonflower and moonflower seeds are considered toxic to humansand animals.
Zinnia
Achieve fast color for just pennies by plantingzinnia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Spider flower is an annual and will only survive for one season.
However, in the right conditions, it readily reseeds and produces new plants year after year.
Give new plants room to thrive by thinning out the emerging seedlings to about 18 inches apart.
you could, however, grow the shorter cultivars in containers on a sunny patio or deck.
