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American Daylily & Perennials - New Spirit™ Cleomes: Compact, Colorful, and Consistent
GRAIN VALLEY, MISSOURI, July 2003. Award-winning plant breeder Dr. R. J. (Jack) Roberson brings new consistency in size and form, as well as a breakthrough new color, to the popular dwarf version of the old-fashioned "spider flower."
While typical cleomes are a lanky 5-6' tall, self-branching Spirit™ Cleomes are a tidy 24-30" tall and 18-24" wide. These compact annuals are self-branching and need no staking! And they come in four cool pastel colors, as well as a breakthrough royal purple, for endless design possibilities: Apple Blossom PPAF (pastel blush pink and white); Damask PPAF (rich rose pink); Frost PPAF (cool white); Violeta PPAF (soft violet lavender); and Merlot PPAF (deep royal purple).
Because Spirit™ Cleomes are vegetatively propagated rather than grown from seed, they are consistent in both color and growth habit. The airy flower clusters are abundant, long-lasting, and large—6 to 8 inches in diameter. The compound leaves are dark green and, along with the flowers, lend a delicate texture to the landscape. Cleomes are drought and heat tolerant, which makes them excellent choices for xeriscaping. An added attraction is that cleome flowers attract both butterflies and hummingbirds.
Although cleomes will be at their finest with full sun and fertile, well-draining soil, they are tolerant of a wide range of soil types and pH. Remove spent blossoms to encourage the plants to rebloom. Regular deadheading also prevents reseeding that would result in inferior plants. Cleomes will flower from summer through frost.
Native to subtropical and tropical regions, cleome is in the same family as the edible flower buds we know as capers. The name derives from a Greek word meaning "glory" and Spirit™ Cleomes will surely bring glory to many gardens. Spirit™ Cleomes: another member of the Gardens of Glory™ family of magnificent plants.
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For more information: jo@gardensofglory.com, or call 816-224-9119.
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