Cleome hassleriana Sparkler 2.0 White - Spider flower

The Cléome Sparkler 2.0 White is a variety of spider flower that belongs to the Sparkler 2.0 series with enhanced performance. It displays its beautiful white flowers on a more compact and more branched plant, allowing for a higher flower production. Its bright flowering topped with prominent stamens, refined appearance, and balanced bushy habit look beautiful in flower beds and romantic pots. This fast-growing annual plant loves sun and heat and tolerates drought. It is easily grown in any fresh and light soil.

The Cleome Sparkler 2.0 White is derived from a less hardy plant native to subtropical regions of South America called Cleome hassleriana. It is a cousin of the caper plant, both belonging to the Capparaceae family. This botanical species is naturalized in other parts of the world, in fallow land and low-altitude slopes. The Sparkler 2.0 White selection quickly forms a bushy clump reaching 70 cm (28in) in height and 50-60 cm (20-24in) in width. On rather rough stems, but devoid of thorns, large dark green palmate leaves are divided into 5 to 7 sharply pointed leaflets with long petioles. Its flowering is particularly long, starting in May and continuing until October. The inflorescences are unique, remarkable for their architecture and lightness. The flowers are long-stalked, clustered in rather fuzzy terminal spikes, slightly fragrant. Each flower is composed of 4 petals narrowing into pedicels at their base, with very long stamens and styles that extend well beyond the corolla, resembling egret feathers. The flowers develop and bloom one after the other, from the bottom to the top of the inflorescence, in a bright white color.

The fruits of the cleome are also unique; they are long slender pods measuring 6 to 12 cm (2 to 5in), hanging from the petioles. Flowers and fruits are sometimes observed on the same plant. It is the appearance of these fruits that earned the cleome the name "spider plant" or "spider flower", as the numerous siliques resemble spider legs.

The cleomes are among the most beautiful annual flowers. For a beautiful effect, plant the Cleome Sparkler 2.0 in the middle of a flower bed, along with pennisetums or Perovskias, planted in groups, or with other tall summer flowers such as cosmos and Buenos Aires verbena. In a white garden, with poppies or delphiniums, they add density and a lot of lightness to all perennial flower beds. In a naturalistic garden, with Miscanthus, Dahlias, and Gauras, they sway with the wind. This compact variety does not require staking and allows for beautiful flowering pots.

Note: Attention, our young plug plants are professional products reserved for experienced gardeners: upon receipt, transplant and store them in sheltered locations (veranda, greenhouse, cold frame) at a temperature above 14°C for a few weeks before being planted outdoors once the risk of frost is definitively eliminated.