Cleome Seeds - Cherry Queen

Cleome Seeds - Cherry Queen introduces a striking splash of vibrant cherry-red color to your garden with its bold, spiky flowers. Known for its unique, airy flower structure, the Cherry Queen variety of cleome is a showstopper that adds both height and visual interest to flower beds, borders, and containers. This drought-tolerant plant attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, making it a perfect addition to any pollinator-friendly garden. With its long blooming season and easy maintenance, Cleome 'Cherry Queen' is a fantastic choice for both novice and experienced gardeners.

Key Benefits

• Vibrant Cherry-Red Flowers: Showcases stunning cherry-red blooms that bring a bold, bright pop of color to your garden.
• Pollinator-Friendly: Attracts beneficial pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, enhancing the biodiversity of your garden.
• Long Blooming Season: Blooms from mid-summer to fall, providing months of color and interest.
• Heat and Drought Tolerant: Performs well in hot, dry conditions, making it a perfect choice for summer gardens with minimal watering.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, Cleome 'Cherry Queen' requires little care and is easy to grow, making it ideal for both beginners and seasoned gardeners.

Variety Features

• Plant Characteristics: Tall, upright plants that grow up to 3–5 feet in height. The bright cherry-red flowers are set against dark green, palmate leaves, creating a beautiful contrast.
• Flowering Season: Begins blooming in mid-summer and continues into the fall, offering continuous color and visual appeal throughout the season.
• Flower Color: Rich cherry-red flowers that stand out in any garden setting, adding a bold and dramatic touch.
• Growth Habit: Cleome 'Cherry Queen' grows upright, with numerous flower clusters arranged in a spiky, air-like formation atop long stems. The foliage is rich and dark green, complementing the vibrant flowers.

Planting Instructions

Planting Season

• Start planting Cleome Seeds - Cherry Queen in late spring after the last frost or begin seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost for an earlier bloom.

Planting Details

• Seed Depth: Plant seeds about 1/4 inch deep in well-draining soil or seed-starting mix.
• Spacing: Space plants 12–18 inches apart to give them room to grow and spread.
• Soil Requirements: Prefers moderately fertile, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0–7.0).
• Sunlight: Full sun is ideal for cleomes, but they can tolerate partial shade in warmer climates.

Care Instructions

Watering

• Keep the soil consistently moist during the early growth stages. Once established, Cleome 'Cherry Queen' is fairly drought-tolerant, requiring minimal watering, but deep watering is recommended for strong growth.

Fertilization

• Fertilize sparingly with a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer in early spring to encourage healthy growth and abundant blooms. Avoid over-fertilizing, as cleomes do well in moderately fertile soils.

Weeding and Mulching

• Mulch around the base of the plant to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Remove weeds regularly, especially during the early growth stages, to prevent competition for nutrients.

Pruning

• Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage more blooms. You can also cut back leggy or spent growth to maintain the plant’s shape and health.

Pest and Disease Control

Pests

• Keep an eye out for common pests such as aphids, spider mites, and caterpillars. Treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil if necessary.

Diseases

• Cleomes are generally resistant to disease but can be susceptible to fungal issues like mildew. To prevent this, ensure proper air circulation around the plants and avoid overhead watering.

Harvesting

Maturity

• Cleome 'Cherry Queen' typically blooms in about 3–4 months from seed, depending on growing conditions. Flowers will continue to bloom from mid-summer until fall, providing a long-lasting display of color.

Harvesting Seeds

• Once flowers fade, allow the seed pods to dry on the plant. Once fully dry, harvest the seeds and store them for future planting. Keep the seeds in a cool, dry place to preserve their viability.

Storage

Short-Term

• If using the flowers for fresh cut arrangements, cleome blooms can last for several days when placed in water.

Long-Term

• Store seeds from Cleome 'Cherry Queen' in an airtight container in a cool, dry area until ready to plant in the next growing season.

Culinary Uses

• Non-Edible: While cleome flowers are ornamental and attract pollinators, they are not typically used for culinary purposes.

Conclusion

Cleome Seeds - Cherry Queen offers a stunning display of vibrant cherry-red flowers that brighten up any garden. This tall, upright plant thrives in hot, dry conditions and attracts pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, making it an excellent choice for creating a beautiful, eco-friendly garden. With a long blooming season, minimal care requirements, and eye-catching flowers, Cleome 'Cherry Queen' is a perfect addition to any garden, whether you're looking to enhance your flower beds, borders, or containers.