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Webs cast a spell
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Cleomes or spider flowers add colour to gardens
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TROPICAL BEAUTY Cleome spinosa
Cleomes are bushy annuals and evergreen shrubs. Originally from Tropical America, they are found in sandy, free draining soils in plains and valleys in the tropics worldwide. Belonging to the family Capparidaceae, they are valued for their terminal racemes of spider-like, four-petalled flowers with prominent stamens, which are borne above three to four palmate leaves.
Cleome spinosa is strongly scented with hairy stems growing from 60cm to 1m. Palmate leaves are five to seven-lobed, leaflets oblong-lanceolate, minutely toothed, hairy and 12 cm long. There are spines at the base of each leaf stalk. Strongly scented white, pink or purple flowers, 3cm across, with oblong to rounded petals are produced in summer.
The plants are usually grown as borders or as seasonal fillers for a herbaceous border. They grow in rich soil and in direct sunlight, especially where the temperature is high even in half-shade. Propagation is by seeds. During the growing season, water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every three weeks. Remove dead heads to prolong flowering and water freely in dry weather. The water must never stagnate at the roots and the ground must never be soggy.
CHITRA RADHAKRISHNAN
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