How to Grow Cleome White Queen

Cleome White Queen

Cleome hassleriana 'White Queen'

flower

Cleome White Queen is a tall, dramatic annual flower featuring pure white blooms arranged in dense, spidery clusters atop long stems. This cultivar is known for its elegant white flowers with prominent stamens and airy, spider-like appearance that adds vertical interest to garden beds. It grows quickly and blooms prolifically throughout summer and fall until frost.

Growing Conditions

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Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily; tolerates partial shade but flowers more prolifically in full sun

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Water: Moderate watering; allow soil to dry slightly between waterings. Once established, quite drought-tolerant. Avoid overwatering, which can reduce flowering. Water at soil level to keep foliage dry.

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Spacing: 18 inches

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Days to maturity: 60-75 days from seed to first flowers

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Planting depth: Surface sow or barely cover seeds; requires light to germinate

Soil

Type: Well-draining sandy to loamy soil

pH: 6.0-7.5

Amendments:

Compost Peat moss or coconut coir Perlite for drainage

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives as an annual in zones 2-11; can self-seed in zones 9-11

2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b

Growth Stages

Seed Germination

10-14 days

Seeds germinate in 10-14 days at warm soil temperatures (70-80°F). Seedlings emerge with cotyledons and develop true leaves within 2-3 weeks.

Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Provide bright light to prevent leggy seedlings. Thin seedlings to prevent overcrowding.

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks

Seedlings develop multiple sets of true leaves and begin establishing a strong root system. Stems elongate and the plant reaches 6-12 inches tall.

Gradually harden off indoor seedlings. Maintain moderate moisture. Avoid nitrogen-heavy fertilizers that encourage leafy growth over flowering.

Stem Elongation

2-3 weeks

Plants grow rapidly, reaching their mature height of 3-4 feet. Stems become sturdy with sparse foliage relative to total height.

Provide support stakes if in windy locations. Space plants adequately for air circulation. Begin light fertilizing with balanced or low-nitrogen fertilizer.

Flowering

6-12 weeks

Dense flower clusters (panicles) appear at stem tips, blooming from the bottom of the cluster upward over several weeks. Pure white flowers with long, delicate stamens are prominent.

Deadhead spent flower clusters to encourage continuous blooming. Water consistently but avoid wetting flowers. Provide occasional fertilizing with balanced NPK.

Seed Production & Decline

Until first frost

If not deadheaded, flowers set seed in long, slender seedpods. Plants continue producing flowers while simultaneously maturing seeds. Flowering slows as temperatures drop in fall.

Allow some flowers to mature to seed for self-seeding next year, or deadhead all flowers to extend blooming into late fall. Remove plants after frost.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Salvia Zinnias Cosmos Rudbeckia Verbena Russian Sage Dahlias Agapanthus

Avoid planting near:

Fennel Dill Parsnips

Common Pests

Spray with water to dislodge; use insecticidal soap or neem oil if severe. Ensure adequate humidity and spacing for air circulation.
Use yellow sticky traps; spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Remove heavily infested leaves.
Spray with strong water stream; use insecticidal soap or neem oil. Encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs.
and
Hand-pick in early morning; use beer traps or diatomaceous earth around base of plants. Remove debris and lower-hanging foliage.

Uses

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Edible flowers

Culinary

Cleome flowers are edible with a slightly bitter, peppery flavor and can be used as a garnish on salads and desserts for visual appeal. [source]

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Cut flower arrangements

Craft

White Queen's tall stems and long-lasting flower clusters make them excellent for fresh and dried flower arrangements, adding height and an airy texture to bouquets. [source]

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Natural pest deterrent

Household

Cleome plants naturally repel certain pests and insects, making them valuable in companion planting schemes to protect vegetable gardens without chemical sprays. [source]

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Pollinator attraction

Wildlife

The delicate white flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds throughout the growing season, supporting local pollinator populations. [source]

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Traditional herbal uses

Medicinal

Cleome species have been used in traditional medicine in various cultures for their reported anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, though modern scientific validation is limited. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Cleome White Queen is an ornamental flower; harvest stems for fresh cut flowers by cutting at a 45-degree angle in early morning when stems are hydrated. Cut below the lowest open flowers and remove lower foliage before placing in water. To collect seeds, allow flower clusters to fully mature and dry on the plant, then harvest dried seedpods and extract seeds for next season's planting.

Fun Facts

🌱 Cleome is commonly called 'spider flower' because of its long, prominent stamens that resemble spider legs extending from the flower cluster.
🌱 White Queen is a self-seeding annual that readily drops seeds in fall, often returning the following year without replanting if conditions are favorable.
🌱 The plant has a distinctive musky scent that some find attractive and others find pungent; the smell may deter certain insects.

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