Skip to Content Skip to Navigation
Menu

Señorita Rosalita® Spider Flower Cleome hybrid

Exposure
  • Sun
Flower Season
  • Spring
  • Summer
Mature Size
4' 2' 1.2m 61cm
Height: 2' - 4'
Spread: 18" - 2'
Height: 61cm - 1.2m
Spread: 46cm - 61cm
Award Winner
  • Details

    24 - 48 Inches
    12 - 18 Inches
    18 - 24 Inches
    61cm - 1.2m
    30cm - 46cm
    46cm - 61cm

    Features

    This heat-tolerant plant adds dramatic height to landscape beds; sterile flowers, and thornless, non-sticky, odorless foliage add to the appeal of this great garden performer.

    Award Winner
    Heat Tolerant
    Deadheading Not Necessary
    Attracts: 
    Birds
    Butterflies
    Resists: 
    Deer

    Characteristics

    Plant Type: 
    Annual
    Height Category: 
    Tall
    Garden Height: 
    24 - 48 Inches 61cm - 1.2m
    Spacing: 
    12 - 18 Inches 30cm - 46cm
    Spread: 
    18 - 24 Inches 46cm - 61cm
    Flower Colors: 
    Pink
    Flower Shade: 
    Pink
    Foliage Colors: 
    Green
    Foliage Shade: 
    Green
    Habit: 
    Upright
    Container Role: 
    Thriller

    Plant Needs

    Light Requirement: 
    Sun

    The optimum amount of sun or shade each plant needs to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours).

    Maintenance Category: 
    Easy
    Bloom Time: 
    Planting To Frost
    Hardiness Zones: 
    10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
    Water Category: 
    Average
    Soil Fertility Requirement: 
    Average Soil
    Uses: 
    Container
    Uses: 
    Landscape
    Uses Notes: 

    Use in landscape beds for height or in large planters

    Maintenance Notes: 

    Unlike other cleome, Senorita Rosalita will not self-seed, doesn't get bare knees, isn't sticky, and doesn't usually have thorns. Her flowers are smaller than classic cleome, but she flowers all over the plant not just at the top. Since she doesn't self-seed you don't have to worry about cleome seedlings trying to take over your garden. She is great for adding height to garden beds and has dark green foliage. Deadheading isn't necessary.

    Occasionally, older mature Senorita plants may sometimes have a few spines, but this is uncommon.

    For gardeners in the Deep South, we have had reports of Senorita Rosalita being attacked by a stem borer. We, with the help of the University of Florida and a great local nurseryman, finally got a pest ID and some information for those of you in impacted areas. The pest is Cabbage Budworm (Hellula phidilealis) and is a member of the moth family. Symptoms of infestation include wilting and death of the tip of each stem, the caterpillar greats holes in the stem as it develops and spends its like in the stem until thatching and flying off to infect other plants. You can control the problem with DiPel which is a natural bacterium that the worm ingests and then the bacterium eats the worm. Harmless to pets and humans, it can be applied to your plants on a monthly and should persist to prevent future problems. This insect also feeds on all cabbage-related crops, like Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cauliflower, Chinese broccoli, Chinese mustard, and leafy plants such as Bok Choy, mizuna, and Collard greens. To our knowledge, this pest only occurs in South Florida (Tampa and farther south), but the control of the problem is the same for all areas of the US.

    An application of fertilizer or compost on garden beds and regular fertilization of plants in pots will help ensure the best possible performance.

    Cleomes (spider flowers) have been around for a long time. But there was talk. Thorns. Sticky leaves and stems. There were even Cleomes, some whispered, that smelled like s-k-u-n-k. Unless they were deadheaded, the varieties with seed pods looked sad. For others if the temperature rose above 100 degrees there were no more flowers and the bottom leaves, they shriveled and fell off.

    Senorita Rosalita has restored Cleome's reputation. The magnificent dark leaves on my 3-5 feet tall upright branches are topped by clusters of bright, lavender-pink flowers. And they bloom with abandon from late spring through fall. I scoff at heat and renounce all thorns and sticky substances. Deadheading is no more. All I ask is that you plant me in full sun in a place where water drains freely through the soil. Grow me, and should you ever smell a certain aroma, at least you will know it is not I that am the source.

    Cleomes (spider flowers) have been around for a long time. But there was talk. Thorns. Sticky leaves and stems. There were even Cleomes, some whispered, that smelled like s-k-u-n-k. Unless they were deadheaded, the varieties with seed pods looked sad. For others if the temperature rose above 100 degrees there were no more flowers and the bottom leaves, they shriveled and fell off.

    Now I, Senorita Rosalita have restored Cleome's reputation. The magnificent dark leaves on my 3-5 feet tall upright branches are topped by clusters of bright, lavender pink flowers. And they bloom with abandon from late spring through fall. I scoff at heat, and renounce all thorns and sticky substances. Deadheading is no more. All I ask is that you plant me in full sun in a place where water drains freely through the soil. Grow me, and should you ever smell a certain aroma, at least you will know it is not I that am the source.

    Señorita Rosalita® Cleome hybrid 'Inncleosr' USPP 19,733, Can 3,290
  • 93 Reviews

    5
    72
    4
    13
    3
    2
    2
    4
    1
    2
    Browse reviews from people who have grown this plant.
    • Beautiful non stop flowers until frost - and the deer that normally eat lantana and marigolds don't touch this. I'll be getting more.

      Linda
      , 2 years ago
    • Zone 9b, full sun, 100+ temperatures are normal here. This cleome has little thrones on the stem and the leaves are sticky. The foliage is good looking, it blooms little airy flowers nonstop. I planted it in the ground. It was 3 feet tall and then fell forward to make a wall of airy blooms and block the view of other glorious plants. I like the plant very much but will know where to plant it in the future. Someone reviewed it with bubblegum petunias and I think that combination would be a winner.

      Peggie Who
      , California
      , United States
      , 3 years ago
    • My all time favorite annual! It just goes and goes all summer! I’ve even had one break in half during a bad storm and two weeks later it had grown back! I couldn’t find any in my area this year and I searched for it at 6 different garden centers. I’m hoping it was just the pandemic and in 2022 it will be back in my local garden center! Please don’t stop selling this flower!

      Ann
      , Indiana
      , United States
      , 3 years ago
    • I have grown this plant for the last two summers. It grew to well over five feet tall and four feet wide both years, and was covered in blooms. This lady is a winner,

      Mary
      , Virginia
      , United States
      , 3 years ago
    • I live in Connecticut. This is the first year I planted this flower. I planted it in a self watering planter with Supertunia Vista Bubble gum. This plant was amazing from the moment I planted it in spring and still looks amazing. The most wonderful thing was when I measured it, the width was about 42”. Everyone comes to our home is amazed by this plant. I also use the Proven Winners Water Soluble once a week. I plan to plant it in the landscape next year because I love it so much!

      Keisha A
      , Connecticut
      , United States
      , 4 years ago
    • This is one of the most beautiful plants I have ever grown. I usually plant 5 of them and they fill in an area 3 ' x 12'. They are stunning and so easy to grow. I plant them in full sun and they thrive. If I could only pick one flower to plant, this would be it.

      Patti Maloney
      , Michigan
      , United States
      , 4 years ago
    • Beautiful plant. Bloomed for 2 years straight for me in Florida. Had a nice round shape.

      Sheila
      , Florida
      , United States
      , 4 years ago
    • This plant was new to me this year. Placed it in a large black planter along with supertina black cherry petunias and sweet caroline ravine sweet potato vine. Outstanding performance and beauty. Received many compliments. Only wish I could use it as a periennial for my planting zone. Will use it again and again.

      DEA
      , South Dakota
      , United States
      , 7 years ago
    • Excellent bedding plant that blooms until frost in very high temps; exceeds old time Cleome in plant shape and in its lasting beauty.

      RITA
      , Louisiana
      , United States
      , 7 years ago
    • First time I've seen this plant and was attracted to the blossoms and the dark green foliage that makes for a beautiful contrast.

      jane dells
      , Michigan
      , United States
      , 8 years ago
  • 199 Awards

    Award Year Award Plant Trial
    2020 Top Performer Mississippi State University - Poplarville
    2020 Top Performer Mississippi State University - Crystal Springs
    2020 Top Performer University of Florida - Fort Lauderdale
    2020 Top Performer University of Georgia
    2018 Top Performer Penn State University
    2013 Superior Plant Colorado State University
    2013 Leader of the Pack - Summer North Carolina State, JC Raulston Arboretum
    2013 Best of Breed North Carolina State, JC Raulston Arboretum
    2013 Leader of the Pack - Early Season North Carolina State, JC Raulston Arboretum
    2012 Very Good Boerner Botanical Garden
  • 5 Recipes

  • 2 Videos

Back to Top

Find plants you love and create idea boards for all your projects.

To create an idea board, sign in or create an account.