Senorita Rosalita cleome (Photo by Allen Owings)

Senorita Rosalita cleome and its new cousin, Senorita Blanca, are great plants for flowers from late spring through frost. Also known as spider flower because the projecting stamens of the flowers give these plants a spidery look, this plant can take summer's heat and is drought-tolerant. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds are highly attracted to the lavender-pink flowers.

Unlike other cleomes, these will not self-seed, don't get bare knees, aren't sticky and don't have thorns. Flowers are smaller than the classic cleome, but flowers appear all over the plant, not just at the top. Deadheading isn't necessary for continuous flowering. Because this cleome doesn't self-seed, gardeners don't have to worry about seedlings trying to take over the garden.

Plant cleome for height and drama in the landscape. Use it as a tall border in the flower garden or plant a few to add a “wow factor” to a specific area.

These varieties are warm-season annuals and are best adapted to full sun. They will easily grow 2 feet tall and can reach heights of 3 to 4 feet by fall. Prune lightly in midsummer to encourage branching, and the plant will stay smaller and better-performing into fall. Space plants 18 inches apart.

Senorita Rosalita is a Louisiana Super Plant.

Allen Owings
Rick Bogren