To those who are searching for the taller growing plants for the background of the flower border or for the foreground of shrubbery, Cleome may well fill their needs. For backgrounds the varieties Gigantea rosea or the Golden Cleome are preferable if much height is needed, while the stockier Pink Queen would show to better advantage when massed in the foreground of tall-growing shrubs.

Some object to the magenta tones in C. rosea but personally I find it very attractive when planted in bold groups with flowers of white, yellow or a dash of blue as companions. The feathery petals and long stamens give the flowers the appearance of small orchids, and inspire its common name of “Spider Flower.” This cleome becomes well-branched with ever-extending racemes of rose-purple blossoms in full sun in my garden and attains a height of from three to five feet.

The Golden Cleome is an attractive color, rich gold approaching orange, on stems which will grow to eight feet. Mine did not attain this height, as by crowding the plants may be kept low. Like all of its family it prefers full sun and rather light, even sandy, soil, but it will grow quite satisfactorily under most soil conditions.

The Pink Queen has huge heads of delightful and refreshing true pink. The large bracts turn to white before falling, giving the suggestion of a white collar with a pink cap. This variety usually grows to three or four feet,- well branched, with airy foliage, blooming here from mid-summer until frost.

I have also seen, but have not grown, a white Cleome which stood to about three feet, but its florets were small in comparison with the above mentioned types, nor did it appear to be quite as showy. All told there are said to be seventy-five known species with but a few cultivated as, garden flowers in this country.

I have had good success planting it in the open In early spring and when once established it self-sows easily, and the only cultural problem is one of thinning and keeping within bounds.

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