Description
Large, graceful, flower heads with petals in a progression of shades from dark pink to almost white that defy description – a real eye-catcher! Before it blooms, the palmate leaves add both startling and attractive texture to the garden. Flowering tends to start when the plant is between 30-60 cm (1-2′) in height. Overall, cleome grows from 90-120 cm (3-4′) in height and up to 60 cm (2′) wide. Pink Queen will self sow & establish persistent stands in Zones 7 and above. Cleome prefers full sun and is an excellent choice for sites that tend to be quite dry. They make a beautiful cut flower and are very attractive to hummingbirds and other pollinators in the garden.
How to Grow
500 seed/gram. Heirloom Flower. Seed can be directly sown in the garden in mid to late May. Sow seed 3 mm (1/8″) deep then thin seedlings to 40 cm (16″) apart later in the season. For an earlier start, sow seed indoors in a soil-less mix between mid-March and mid- April, plant seed no more than 3 mm (1/8″) deep, moisten the growing medium, then chill at 4-7 C (40- 45 F) for 5-10 days. After chilling keep at a temperature of 21 C (70 F) for the 8-14 day germination period. Even after all this, germination can be erratic. Grow on indoors under lights at a slightly cooler temperature then harden off and transplant outside after the danger of frost has passed. Space plants 40 cm (16″) apart in the garden.
