Cleome ‘Cherry Queen’ Seeds

Dramatic, cherry-pink ‘spider’ blooms on stately, architectural stems. A heat-loving South American beauty that provides exotic vertical impact and supports pollinators 24 hours a day.

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 hassleriana ‘Cherry Queen’ is a robust Half-Hardy Annual (H2). Native to the sun-baked landscapes of South America, it is biologically hardwired to thrive in heat and light. It is a prestigious Fleuroselect Novelty Winner, recognized for its exceptional uniformity and striking carmine-rose pigmentation.

The “Spiky” Protection: A fascinating biological trait of Cleome is the presence of small, sharp spines at the base of each leaf. While you may wish to wear gloves when harvesting stems for the vase, these spines serve as a natural deterrent against deer and rabbits, making Cleome an excellent choice for rural or exposed gardens.

24-Hour Pollinator Support: Cleome is a vital wildlife asset. During daylight hours, its nectar-rich spires are a magnet for bumblebees and butterflies. As the light fades, the flowers remain open and continue to emit a subtle scent, providing an essential food source for nocturnal pollinators like Hawk Moths.

Growing Guide

Cleome is a heat-loving species; for a successful UK display, it must be started early under glass to maximize the growing season.

How to Sow:
Sow indoors from February to April. Surface sow the seeds onto moist seed compost and press them in gently, but do not bury themCleome seeds require light to trigger germination. Maintain a consistent temperature of 20-25C in a heated propagator or on a bright windowsill. Germination can be erratic, typically occurring within 14-30 days.

Where to Plant:
They demand full sun and a position sheltered from strong winds, which can damage the tall floral spires. Only plant out in late May or June once all risk of frost has passed. They thrive in light, well-drained, or sandy soils and are remarkably drought-tolerant once their root systems are established.

Ongoing Care:
To encourage a more compact, multi-branched framework, pinching is recommended. When the seedlings are young, snip out the central growing tip to stimulate lateral branching, resulting in more numerous, though slightly smaller, flower heads. Cleome is a “cut-and-come-again” variety; regular harvesting of stems for the house will keep the plant producing fresh fireworks until the first frosts.

Plant Specifications

Beautiful Garden Combinations

The dramatic vertical impact of Cleome works spectacularly when paired with available partners from our range:

• Cosmos ‘Purity’: The Texture Pair. The delicate, feathery green foliage of ‘Purity’ provides a soft mist that hides the bare lower stems of the Cleome. This combination of pure white silk petals and vibrant carmine spider-blooms creates a professional-looking, cooling summer display.
• Nicotiana ‘Sensation Mixed’: The Evening Scent. For a magical sensory experience, pair Cleome with Flowering Tobacco. Both are “evening performers”the Nicotiana releases a powerful sweet fragrance at dusk, while the Cleome continues to hum with night-flying moths, creating a 24-hour wildlife haven.

Sowing & Flowering Calendar

Sow indoors in spring for a spectacular harvest of architectural rose-pink spires from mid-summer until the autumn frosts.

Stately Architectural Backdrop
Cleome is one of the few annuals that provides significant vertical structure at the back of a border. Its unique “Spider” blooms create a focal point that is both exotic and refined, providing months of interest in any sunny summer garden.

Robust Tropical Stamina

Known for its stamina and ability to thrive in full sun, Cleome hassleriana ‘Cherry Queen’ is an essential choice for those wanting to create a dramatic, low-maintenance garden that supports a huge variety of essential British pollinators.

Want more detailed growing advice?
View our Complete Growing Guide for Annuals