Cleome Cherry Queen
Cleome Cherry Queen
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Cleome 'Cherry Queen' Seeds
If your garden feels a bit "flat," Cleome is the solution. Known as the Spider Flower, 'Cherry Queen' produces tall, sturdy spires topped with large, spherical heads of vibrant carmine-rose flowers.
The name comes from the incredibly long, curling stamens that protrude from the petals, looking like spider legs or a freeze-framed firework. This is a plant with serious presence. Growing up to 1.2m tall, it provides a tropical, exotic look at the back of a border, thrives in hot summers, and is absolutely adored by bees and moths in the evening.
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🌿 Understanding the Plant
Cleome is a Half-Hardy Annual.
It originates from South America, so it loves heat and hates frost. It grows rapidly in a single season.
The "Spiky" Secret: A little warning—Cleome stems have small spines at the base of the leaves (like a rose). It makes them deer and rabbit resistant, but you might want to wear gloves when cutting them for a vase!
🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow
Cleome needs warmth to get started. Don't rush them into the cold ground.
Germination:
Sow indoors from February to April. Surface sow the seeds onto moist compost (do not bury them; they need light to germinate). Press them down gently. They need heat (20-25°C), so a propagator or warm windowsill is essential. Germination can be erratic, taking 14-30 days.
Where to Sow:
They demand full sun and shelter from strong winds. They are drought tolerant once established and thrive in light, sandy soils.
Care While Growing:
Pinch: When seedlings are young, pinch out the top tip to encourage branching. This makes the plant bushier and produces more flower heads.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Latin Name | Cleome hassleriana |
| Common Name | Spider Flower 'Cherry Queen' |
| Hardiness | H2 (Half-Hardy - Needs Frost Protection) |
| Light Required | Full Sun ☀️ |
| Height | ↕️ 90cm - 120cm (Tall) |
| Spread | ↔️ 45cm |
| Spacing | 🌱 45cm apart |
| Great for | 🧱 Back of Border 🦋 Pollinators ✂️ Cut Flowers 🏙️ Architectural Structure |
| Seed Count | Approx. 200 seeds per packet |
🤝 Perfect Garden Companions
Cleome often has "bare legs" (the lower leaves can look a bit scruffy), so plant something bushy in front to hide them:
- ☁️ Cosmos 'Purity': The Softener. The white, feathery foliage of Cosmos hides the base of the Cleome, while the white flowers contrast beautifully with the cherry-pink spikes.
- 🌸 Nicotiana 'Lime Green': The Zesty Clash. Pink and Green is a classic combination. The lime green tobacco flowers look incredibly fresh against the hot pink Cleome, and both plants release scent in the evening.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Sow indoors in spring. Plant out in June. Flowers July to first frost.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Indoors | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||||||
| Plant Out | 🌱 | 🌱 | ||||||||||
| Flowers | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 |
🏆 Officially Recognised Excellence
This variety is a Fleuroselect Novelty Winner, recognized for its exceptional garden performance, uniformity, and striking colour.
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