Choosing planting

How to pair Cleomes?

Ideas and inspiration for different garden styles, in the ground or in containers

Contents

Modified the 11 January 2026 by Marion 4 min. Difficulty: Beginner

The cleomes, also known as “spider flowers”, are plants with a long summer flowering period in white, pink or purple. Frost-tender, they are grown in our climate as annuals.

Easy to grow, cleomes require very little care. Plant them in a warm, sunny position, in moist (non-drying), fertile but well-drained soil.

Versatile, spider flowers can be used to create displays in a natural-style garden, as well as a romantic or exotic-inspired garden. They add volume, but also lightness, thanks to their long, airy flower spikes. Discover our different ideas for planting combinations with cleomes for inspiration.

→ Read our complete guide – Cleome, spider flower: sowing, planting and growing

Difficulty

In a romantic or exotic-style flowering pot display

To brighten up patios, balconies or windowsills, Cleome can be used to create beautiful flower-filled containers or window boxes.

For a romantic style, pair it with summer-flowering bulbs such as single-flowered Dahlias. Choose them in shades of white or pink, such as ‘Happy Single Princess’ and ‘Happy Single Juliet’. Complete the display with a small fuchsia that tolerates full sun, such as ‘Beacon Rosa’. Also consider the delicate flowers of Clarkia, such as those of Clarkia pulchella ‘Snowflake’. To add a touch of lightness, add a small ornamental grass such as Carex. For a slightly brighter colour, also consider Tibouchina ‘Groovy baby’, a small shrub with large purple flowers. Hardy geraniums will also make good companions for our Cleomes.

Cleome can also be used to create a more exotic atmosphere, thanks to its palmate, divided foliage. As companions, give it summer-flowering bulbs such as Alstroemerias, with their speckled trumpet-shaped flowers. Choose varieties from the ‘Duc d’Anjou’ collections, such as ‘Edouard’, ‘François’ or ‘Pierre’, to keep to the same colour palette. Also consider the highly floriferous Crocosmias, with their charming funnel-shaped flowers in warm shades. Add small Cannas, those essential rhizomatous plants for an exotic atmosphere. For example, choose ‘Pink President’, or ‘Angelique’ for a little more vibrancy. For a light touch, complete the display with a Pennisetum orientale with lovely pink spikes.

A romantic atmosphere, clockwise from the top: Dahlia ‘Happy Single Princess’, Tibouchina ‘Groovy baby’, Geranium ‘Johnson’s Blue’, Dahlia ‘Happy Single Juliet’, Cleome ‘Senorita Rosalita’, Carex flacca, Fuchsia ‘Beacon Rosa’

In an English-inspired mixed border

One of the characteristics of a mixed border is playing with a colour theme. With our Cleomes, it is possible to create a lovely pastel colour scheme in shades of white and pink. Purple flowers in pale shades can also be incorporated.

For this English-inspired border, start by installing structural plants, such as Foxgloves with their tall flower spikes made up of bell-shaped blooms. For example, choose Digitalis purpurea ‘Camelot Rose’ or ‘Alba’.

Continue with perennials such as Iris germanica, which will flower in spring. Choose ‘Brindled Beauty’ or ‘Dame Blanche’. Repeat-flowering varieties such as ‘Cherished’ and ‘Frappé’ have the advantage of being able to flower again at the end of summer. To provide colour before the summer flowers appear, also consider spring bulbs, planting, for example, Amaryllis.

Add Oriental poppies with their large corollas and contrasting centres, such as ‘Checkers’ and the dynamic ‘Raspberry Brulee’. Agapanthus, with their beautiful flower spikes, will also make good companions, including ‘Glacier Stream’ and ‘Megan’s Mauve’.

Other iconic mixed-border perennials can be added. Choose Delphiniums, Echinaceas, Filipendulas or Lupins.

Plant the Cleomes with groundcovers or small grasses at their feet. Plant several to create lovely volume and a massed effect. For example, add Stachys byzantina, with its spreading habit and woolly silver foliage, which will bring softness and balance. To maintain this sense of harmony, plant grey-leaved yarrows, such as Achillea ageratifolia or Achillea kellereri. Finally, complete the scene with light, structural grasses, such as Miscanthus.

In a mixed border: Cleome ‘Senorita Carolina’, Echinacea purpurea, Agapanthus ‘Megan’s Mauve’, Stachys byzantina, Foxglove, Iris germanica ‘Frappé’, Papaver ‘Patty’s Plum’

In a cottage-style bed with summer flowering

Cleomes quickly add volume to a border, thanks to their bushy habit. Their colourful flowering is also perfect for brightening up a sunny, naturalistic flower border.

For a wildflower-meadow feel, give your Cleomes other annuals as companions. Let’s start with some Cosmos, with flowers that are as charming as they are varied. Also consider Chrysanthemums, Daisies, Zinnias and Pot Marigolds. Love lies bleeding, with its remarkable trailing flowering, will also fit in very well.

Among perennials, include Gauras, airy Verbena bonariensis, as well as Phlox, which will quickly form a beautiful cushion of flowers.

Complete the picture with ornamental grasses, such as feather grasses or Miscanthus, which will enhance the natural, country-garden effect even further.

Cleome ‘Senorita Rosalita’, yellow Cosmos Xanthos, Chrysanthemum ‘Julia’, Verbena bonariensis, Stipa tenuifolia, Gaura ‘Rosy Jane’, golden Marguerite

As a pretty edging border

Choose the smallest varieties to create an attractive border in the garden or vegetable garden. For example, opt for the pink-flowered Cleomes ‘Sparkler Blush’ and ‘Senorita Carolina’.

For a light, airy effect, and if the position is not too hot, add Ophiopogons with their grass-like appearance. For example, choose those with contrasting black foliage, such as O. planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ or O. planiscapus ‘Black Dragon’.

Continue playing with decorative foliage and fairly low-growing plants with Bergenias, valued for their thick, round, glossy leaves. Heucheras with their rich range of colours will also make good companions.

Cleome ‘Senorita Carolina’, Bergenia ‘Baby Doll’, Heuchera ‘Mint Marquess’, Ophiopogon nigrescens

In a shrub hedge

You can easily pair the tallest cleomes with shrubs in a hedge. Our annuals with their flexible habit can use their companions for support, avoiding the need for sometimes unattractive staking. Likewise, place them in a position sheltered from the wind to prevent their stems from flopping to the ground.

For example, choose Cleome ‘Senorita Blanca’ and ‘Sparkler Blanche’ with white flowers (80 cm tall), or the ‘Sparkler Rose’ form (90 cm tall).

Pair them with shrubs with generous flowering, such as buddleias, ceanothuses, abelias or roses. To add an airy touch, also consider the smoke tree Cotinus coggygria, with its summer flowering of pink plumes.

For decorative evergreen foliage, consider photinias, Mexican orange blossom, elaeagnus and certain varieties of berberis.