| Description | Senorita Rosalita Spider Flower (Cleome hassleriana) A prolific blooming hardy annual with pink flowers and dark green foliage. Much smaller than other Cleome. |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | (klee-OH-me)(hass-ler-AN-a) |
| Plant Type | Annuals, Site author's observations |
| Hardiness Zone | 8-11 |
| Sunlight | full, tolerates some shade |
| Moisture | average, grows very fast in moist well drained sites |
| Soil & Site | average |
| Temperature | tolerates heat and cool temperature |
| Flowers | single pink flowers borne on a indeterminate raceme (#40), bloom in succession from the bottom to top of the flower stalk, has 3-4" long protruding stamens creating the spider-like effect, four narrow petals, seeds produced in a narrow pointed seedpod on narrow stems |
| Fruit | narrow pointed seedpod on narrow stems |
| Leaves | green palmately compound leaves, spines at the base of leaf |
| Stems | thick woody-like stalk |
| Roots | fibrous |
| Dimensions | 24-36 by 18-24 inches (HS), if you have ever grown the older Cleome varieties, it is hard to believe the reduction in size of this plant. |
| Maintenance | need a saw or lopping shears to cut the thick stalk in the fall |
| Propagation | seeds, or dig out volunteer seedlings that pop up in the garden, if the plant is a hybrid seedling may revert back to species colors |
| Native Site | Native to tropical areas of South America. |
| Cultivar Origin | Distributed by Proven Winners. Supposedly the plant is named after Senorita Rosalita. Her Husband was killed in a war and when she got the message she cried and where her tears hit the ground this plant grew. |
| Misc Facts | Named after a Swiss plant collector Emile Hassler (1861-1937.)(#145). Common name "Spider Plant" comes from either the seed pods or the long stamens that resemble dangling spider legs. Take your choice. AKA: Cleome Senorita Rosalita |
| Author's Notes | At the garden center I work at, this Cleome is always mass planted in some of the front gardens. Very florific, easy to grow and a nice compact size. |
| Notes & Reference | #40-Herbaceous Ornamental Plants (Steven Stills), #109-Annuals and Tender Perennials for North American Gardens (Wayne Winterroud), #145-Plant Lives (Sue Eland) web site |
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