A new cleome, Seniorita Rosalita, is a radical departure from the cleomes we have grown in the past.
The cleome, or spider flower, is a traditional summer annual grown in the south for generations. They are tall robust plants growing three to five feet tall with a hand-shaped leaf and a large heads of delicate flowers.
The traditional spider flower does have some drawbacks, including a sticking feel and tiny spines that are just waiting to prick you. They produce a lot of seeds. They also get leggy as they age.
With the Seniorita Rosalita, all of this changes. IN 2012, LSU AgCenter named Seniorita Rosalita a Louisiana Super Plant.