Cleoma the Prickly Queen

An annual herbaceous plant. Stems, shoots, and leaves are covered with glandular hairs. The leaves are compound, palmate-interstice, on petioles with short stipules in the form of thorns. Flowers of the original form, four-petalled, 2-3 cm in diameter, on long pedicels, with long blue or purple stamens, collected in apical racemose inflorescences, a mixture of shades. The plant is light and heat-loving, quite drought-resistant, prefers neutral soils and does not tolerate waterlogging. Seeds for seedlings are sown in March - April or before winter to a depth of 0.5 - 1 cm, at a temperature of 20-23 degrees, shoots appear in 15-20 days. They are planted in the ground when the threat of frost has passed.

Used in mixborders, group and single plantings. Cleoma is appropriate in a solid landing along the fence, and can also act as a low screen.