Cleome, Spider Flower, Spider Legs, Grandfather's Whiskers 'Senorita Rosalita'

I bought two of these this year and later found out they are annuals. They have been wonderful and have bloomed consistently from May to ...Read MoreAugust (so far) without a break.
My conditions are sun and dry. Will buy many more. No dead-heading! Just wish they would come back!

I love Senorita Rosalita in Dallas TX area. Grows about 3 ft tall in mostly sun, blooms all summer, and doesn't get leggy or set seed. ...Read MorePlants can be hard to find. Last two years I found 8 in. patio pots containing three units and just divided them.

Amazing annual for this area - reseeds prolifically every year. This year just a few plants have formed a "bush" that is branching 3 fee...Read Moret across! A beautiful "airy" bloom that is a compliment to many other flowers in the garden. I'll have to remember to not plant it so close to my perennials next year because it can completely cover them up if it hits pay dirt.

I have just planted this plant so I can not rate it yet. Spider flower, spider legs, grandfather's whiskers, cleome 'Senorita Rosalita™...Read More' (Cleome) is classified as an annual. But in frost free areas (Zones 10/11), it can be grown all year; however, it performs best in the spring, through the summer and into the fall. It produces 1 inch long, tight, compact, pink/purple florets on the tops and sides of the plant instead of producing balls of flowers at the top of long stalks. It appears bushier than the cleome that I have planted before. It is supposed to be heat and drought tolerant (once established) providing blooms all summer without resting for a while when it becomes really hot and then perking up in cooler weather. Other notable characteristics are that doesn't set seed so no dead-heading is necessary and it is spineless. The dark green foliage has no scent. I shall see how it does in the San Antonio summer heat.

Awards Won:

2007 - Top Five Performer - Colorado State University
2007 - Top Five Performer - Ohio State University Extension
2007 - New "Fashioned" Plants - Chesapeake Home Magazine
2007 - Top 10 - University of Minnesota-Grand Rapids
2007 - Top Rated Performer - Cedar Rapids Parks Department
2007 - Knock Your Socks Off - University of Georgia
2007 - Best Pick - University of Tennessee
2007 - Top Performer - University Laval
2007 - Top Performer - Ohio State University Extension
2007 - Leader of the Pack Early Season - North Carolina State
2007 - Top Performer - Smithsonian Institution
2007 - Excellent Rating - Massachussetts Horticultural Society
2007 - Top Performer - Kansas State University
2007 - Best of the Zoo - Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
2007 - Top Performers - University of Minnesota
2007 - Outstanding Rating - Boerner Botanical Garden
2006 - Best New Varieties - University of Florida
2006 - Outstanding Rating - Disney Winter Trials
2006 - Top Performer - Cornell
2006 - Best New Varieties - Spring - University of Florida
2006 - Top Performer - Michigan State University
2006 - Top Performer - University of Tennessee
2006 - Gardeners Choice - National Arboretum
2006 - Leader of the Pack Early Season - North Carolina State
2006 - Top Performer - University of Minnesota-Morris
2006 - Exciting Annual - University of Minnesota
2006 - Top 25 - Ohio State University Extension
2006 - Top Performers - University of Minnesota
2006 - Top Performers - Colorado State University
2006 - Best New Varieties - Texas A & M - East Texas Bedding Plant Trials
2006 - Trial Manager Favorites - Texas A & M - East Texas Bedding Plant Trials
2006 - Best New Varieties - Cedar Rapids Parks Department
2006 - Growers Choice - University of Guelph
2006 - Gardeners Choice - University of Guelph
2006 - Top New Variety - Cedar Rapids Parks Department
2006 - Excellent Rating - Longwood Gardens
2006 - Les Exceptionelles -J ardin Daniel A. Seguin
2006 - Consumer Choice - Jardin Daniel A. Seguin
2006 - Top Performer -Jardin Daniel A. Seguin
2006 - Excellent Rating - Boerner Botanical Garden
2006 - Top New Varieties - Penn State
2006 - Best Varieties - Colorado State University
2006 - Top Rated Performer - Delaware Valley college, Henry Schmeider Arboretum
2006 - Excellent Rating - Massachussetts Horticultural Society

Update 4/4/2019: I have been growing this plant for several years now in a large container as an annual. It has done very well in our summer heat and consistently provides blooms. When the leaves start to become a lighter green, I fertilize it with an all purpose fertilizer. It has never had a pest problem. I have never been able to find small plants at my local nurseries so I have to purchase a large plant each year which is expensive. I have now given it an overdue positive rating.