Cleome (Spider Flower) in Zone 5a & 5b

Cleome hassleriana

When to plant cleome (spider flower) in zone 5b

Zones 5a and 5b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.

Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Cleome (Spider Flower) tolerates either.

Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1.5-6 ft.

Cleome, also called spider flower, is one of the taller plants on this site, anywhere from 1.5 to 6 feet depending on the cultivar, and it earns that height by being a serious draw for hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and predatory insects that help keep pest populations down elsewhere in the garden. The classic species form does have a downside worth knowing up front: sticky sap, a noticeable odor, and stems armed with small spines.

How cleome (spider flower) fits zone 5's season

Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. Cleome (Spider Flower) needs about 75 days from sowing to first harvest.

Good companions

No standout companions recorded yet for Cleome (Spider Flower).

Where to buy cleome seeds

• Botanical Interests
• True Leaf Market
• Burpee
• High Mowing Organic Seeds

See why we recommend these suppliers →

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See it growing

Search YouTube for "growing cleome (spider flower)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)

← Back to the full zone 5b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →

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Growing Cleome (Spider Flower) in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.

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