Cleome

Mark Anderson · 2005-07-09T18:40:48+00:00

I have a two basic requirements when it comes to what gets planted in the very limited space that makes up my garden. The number one requirement is size. The plant has to be able to grow 3 feet or higher. My second requirement is toughness. The plant has to be able to negotiate the jungle and survive on its own. No pansies, petunias, or any of those kind of plants ever gets planted in my garden because they're too boring. IMHO, they're like the little yap yap dog that looks cute but can't do anything useful but eat and poop. I want plants that get big so all summer I can sit back and referee the war that ensues as they all vie for territory.Anyway, this spring I went for the first time to this one nursery here in Chicago around Rogers Park and they had a huge selection of different plants. I stumbled upon Cleome and the tag said it grew to 4' so I bought a six pack of seedlings and in the pots they went. So far these plants have gotten huge and each one has 3 or 4 different flower clusters and they keep getting bigger and bigger and there are plenty of growing months left this year. So, for me, I award my plant of the year to Cleome. It has practically taken over my garden although no plant can beat the towering sunflowers. Here's a pic of my Cleome: The leaves on this plant actually look like cannabis leaves so I wonder if the two plant are related.Does anyone know of other annual or perennial flowers that get this big?

Jul 09, 2005 22 Replies

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presley 21 years ago

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Ann 21 years ago

LavenderBee expounded:

Make sure you allow plenty of room - right now my Nicotiana sylvestris' base leaves are almost 3.5' in diameter! Absolutely huge, they love where they're planted this year!

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Mark Anderson 21 years ago

I had wanted to grow some tobacco plants this year but didn't get around to ordering seeds. I'm in Zone 5 Chicago but in the summer can an annual really tell the difference between zone 5 and zone 9? I really wish nurseries around here would carry some of these exotic annuals (well tobacco isn't that exotic or uncommon but it is around here).

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