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Cleome that you have got to see!
Mississippi Gardens Newspaper and Web Column - June 9, 2003

Mississippi's Annual Greenhouse Growers' Conference is always a great opportunity for horticulturists, growers and others, to learn more about producing top quality plants. I recently attended this regional event that was held at the beautiful Eagle Ridge Conference Center near the campus of Hinds Community College. One of the highlights of the conference was previewing new and improved plants that will be available in garden centers this fall and in the spring of 2004. There are some great new plants coming for your garden!

Part of the conference included a tour of the flower trials at the Truck Crops Branch Experiment Station in Crystal Springs, MS. Some of the plants on display included new Dianthus in the Amazon series and some outstanding new petunias. However, the group of flowering annuals that really caught my eye was the beautiful display of Cleome hybrids. These you have got to see!

Cleome (C. hassleriana) originated in South America and the West Indies, and, as you might expect, is a frost sensitive herbaceous plant. They prefer full sun to part shade and light (sandy), fertile, well-drained soils. Not only is Cleome beautiful but also it is well able to withstand our summer heat and humidity as well as hot, dry situations.

The unique flowers come in white, pink, rose and lavender. They are situated above the foliage in stem tip clusters that may be 2 inches in diameter. Blooms begin in late spring and continue until frost. Keep them fresh and coming with occasional deadheading. Hummingbirds find the flowers attractive, too.

Cleome is well known for being an outstanding plant for Mississippi gardens. It is commonly used as a background plant where it may stand 4 to 6 feet tall with palmate leaves 5 to 6 inches long. Its height, foliage and flowers make Cleome a fitting backdrop for any flowerbed but it also looks fantastic when planted in blocks or in a mass of mixed colors. It can be effectively used as a container plant around the pool or patio.

Cleome is an easy plant to grow and can be direct-sown after danger of frost is past. The Queen series is a well known group including named varieties like 'Queen Pink' (also Rose, Violet and White). A new group of hybrids known as the Sparkler series (featured at the conference) are considered a breeding breakthrough. Genetically, these are dwarf Cleome reaching heights of only 3 to 4 feet with a uniformly branched bushy growth habit. These will make a superb focal point in any garden or landscape.

Look for these new hybrids or select seeded Cleome at your local garden center. Happy Gardening!

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These archived columns were written by Kerry Johnson, a hobby gardener, former weekly newspaper columnist and an Area Extension Horticulture Agent for 11 coastal counties in Mississippi.