Senorita Rosalita Spider Flower is an herbaceous, tropical perennial (typically grown as an annual) with an upright compact habit maturing to a height of 4 feet. The lavender flowers bloom through the summer until the first frost and provide nectar for hummingbirds and butterflies. Senorrita Rosalita Spider Flower originated from a cross pollination of C. hybrida 'Linde Armstrong' (the female parent) and an unnamed C. hybrida seedling (male parent), in Germany in 2002. U. S. Plant Patent PP19,733 was issued on February 17, 2009. Senorita Rosalita Spider Flower does best in full sun, for the best blooms, or partial shade in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils. You should apply consistent watering during the growing season. Once established, plants will tolerate heat and drought. This variety of cleome is sterile and will not reseed in the garden. It can only be grown from transplants. It is winter hardy to USDA Zones 9-10, but is grown as an annual in Zones 3-8. It is resistant to browsing by rabbits and deer. Unlike some varieties of cleome, Senorita Rosalita Spider Flower has no thorns, unpleasant oder, sticky foliage, or seedpods. Use in the border to add summer color to your garden. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: This variety of cleome is noted for disease resistance. Watch for aphids, spider mites and whiteflies, mildew, and rust.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheBuddleja x weyerianaDianthus Jolt™ Pink 'PAS970056'Lantana camara 'Miss Huff'
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Stems are covered with compound palmate green leaves (each leaflet to 2 to 3 inches long).
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Long Bloom Season
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Irregular
Flower detail
Lavender pink flower bloom from early summer to the first frost. Flowers are elongated, open, terminal racemes, 4-petaled and spider-like, with protruding stamens. Blooms continuously from late spring to frost.