Cleome Seeds - Mixed Colors

Cleome Seeds - Mixed Colors bring a vibrant splash of color to your garden with their stunning, spiky blooms. Often known as the "spider flower," cleomes produce tall, showy flowers in an array of shades, from pink and purple to white and red. These plants are perfect for adding vertical interest to borders, flower beds, and containers. With their unique, airy flower structure and attractive foliage, cleomes also attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. Hardy and easy to grow, Cleome is an excellent choice for both beginner and experienced gardeners looking to brighten up their garden.

Key Benefits

• Vibrant and Colorful Blooms: Features a mix of pink, purple, white, and red flowers that add a bold and unique touch to any garden.
• Attracts Pollinators: Known to attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, making it a great addition to a pollinator-friendly garden.
• Long Blooming Season: Cleomes bloom from mid-summer to fall, providing continuous color and beauty throughout the growing season.
• Heat and Drought Tolerant: Tolerates hot and dry conditions, making it ideal for summer gardens with minimal watering.
• Easy to Grow: Hardy, low-maintenance plants that require little care once established.

Variety Features

• Plant Characteristics: Tall, upright plants that grow up to 3–5 feet in height. The spiky flowers are set against dark green, palmate leaves, providing a unique contrast.
• Flowering Season: Begins blooming in mid-summer and continues into the fall, providing months of color and visual interest.
• Flower Color: The mixed colors of cleome flowers include pink, purple, red, and white, making it a versatile and eye-catching addition to any garden.
• Growth Habit: Cleome grows upright with a bushy appearance, producing numerous flowers on long, slender stems. The flowers are arranged in large, showy clusters at the top of the plant.

Planting Instructions

Planting Season

• Plant Cleome Seeds - Mixed Colors in late spring after the last frost, or start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost to ensure early blooms.

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 allow 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, as they thrive in bright light and hot conditions.

Care Instructions

Watering

• Keep the soil evenly moist, especially during the establishment period, but once established, cleomes are fairly drought-tolerant and require less frequent watering.
• Avoid overwatering, as this can lead to root rot.

Fertilization

• Fertilize sparingly, as cleomes do not require heavy feeding. A balanced, all-purpose fertilizer applied in the early spring is sufficient for promoting strong growth and abundant blooms.

Weeding and Mulching

• Mulch around the base of the plant to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
• Remove any weeds that may compete for nutrients or space, especially in the early stages of growth.

Pruning

• Deadhead spent blooms regularly to encourage further flowering. Cutting back any leggy growth or spent flowers can help maintain the plant's shape and encourage more vigorous blooming.

Pest and Disease Control

Pests

• Common pests that may affect cleomes include aphids, spider mites, and caterpillars. Inspect plants regularly and treat with insecticidal soap or a natural remedy like neem oil.

Diseases

• Cleomes are relatively resistant to disease but can occasionally suffer from fungal issues such as mildew. Ensure proper air circulation around the plants and avoid overhead watering to reduce the risk of fungal infections.

Harvesting

Maturity

• Cleomes grown from seed typically bloom in about 3–4 months, depending on growing conditions. Plants will continue to flower from mid-summer to fall, providing a long-lasting show of color.

Harvesting Seeds

• Once flowers fade, allow seed pods to dry on the plant. Once dry, collect the seeds for planting in future seasons. Be sure to store them in a cool, dry place.

Storage

Short-Term

• If you're harvesting flowers for fresh arrangements, cleome flowers can be cut and placed in water immediately to keep them fresh for several days.

Long-Term

• Store Cleome Seeds - Mixed Colors in a cool, dry place in an airtight container to preserve their viability for the next planting season.

Culinary Uses

• Non-Edible: Cleome flowers are primarily ornamental and not typically used in cooking. However, their stunning appearance makes them a popular choice for floral arrangements.

Conclusion

Cleome Seeds - Mixed Colors offer a wonderful blend of vibrant, spiky blooms that add height and color to any garden. With a range of hues including pink, purple, red, and white, this variety is ideal for creating a bold and beautiful flower bed or container garden. Tolerant of heat and drought, cleomes are easy to grow and require minimal maintenance once established. Whether you’re looking to attract pollinators or simply want a striking, low-maintenance flower in your garden, Cleome is an excellent choice for gardeners of all levels.