Yellow Spiderflower, Jones spiderflower
Cleome lutea

Family: Capparidaceae

What it is like

Cleome lutea is a ANNUAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4 and is frost tender. It is in flower from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

Height (m): 1.2

Where it is found

Sandy soils on desert plains to lower montane valleys, it is also found on sandy flatland.

Western N. America - Nebraska to Washington and Arizona.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

Young shoots - cooked. Seed - ground into a meal and used as a flour.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicine

Rating: 1

The plant has been used to treat ant bites.

Stings: Used in the treatment of stings and insect bites.

Other

Rating: 0

Yields a black dye. No further details are given, but it is probably obtained by boiling down the whole plant.

Dye: Plants that provide dyes.

How it is grown

Prefers a light fertile soil in a warm dry sunny position with plenty of room to spread. A frost tender plant, it can be grown as a summer annual in Britain.

Propagating it: Seed - surface sow or only lightly cover the seed in spring in a greenhouse. The seed usually germinates in 5 - 14 days at 25°c. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in late spring. Day time temperatures below 20°c depress germination but a night time fall to 20° is necessary.

Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;

Habit: Annual

Hardiness: 3-8

Growth:

Soil: Light (sandy), medium

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Peritoma aurea. P. luteum.