Cleome wil not attempt to perennialize like Four O'Clocks but it will reseed very well if allowed to. I have volunteers every year and usually allow 1 or 2 to grow and flower. They are long blooming but get lanky so they are best in the back of a border or like mine in the middle of a large bed surrounded by other plants. They can get ratty looking by the end of the season and I often pull them out fairly early in fall. I would not bother with staring indoors- just direct sow in the spring. They won't germinate until it gets warm. I've only grown them in full sun so don't know about shade tolerance.

This is my experience with them. I've never really devoted any large space for growing a clump of them. A single self sown plant can get pretty big by seasons end and is all I want most years. That way I can enjoy it and I don't end up with so many seedlings the next year. I have enough self sowers LOL.

My experience mirrors Shari's. They are annuals, and I get better germination if I wait and sow in spring, but a few seeds do seem to survive the winter and reseed anyway. I really like these plants when they are in to right spot. In the right spot of soil and sun, they are tall, not lanky, with big flowers, and do not need staking. In other spots, I let them come up, and then pull them (easy) when it's clear they will look homely. I have a good spot identified now right next to the driveway, so next year that bed will be all triple purple datura, yellow lantana, and pink cleome.

I love cleomes and wish mine would reseed. They don't because I keep things mulched too heavily.

One drawback (I guess - doesn't bother me) is that they smell like a skunk. My Gramma used to call them "pole-cat flowers". But that is only a drawback if you buy them in flower and carry them inside your car...or cut them for your dining table centerpiece!

I sprinkled some seeds around my birdbath and got a beautiful first year crop. Since then, I have had seedlings popping up everywhere BUT around the birdbath... only a few of the colors have re-appeared. Cool plants.

As the above post said, my experience with them reseeding is that they move around the garden at will, so to speak, but the colors tend to be mostly the paler ones. I want some of the darker red/pinks, so will buy a seed packet and spread the seeds around in early spring. I don't do anything on purpose with them, and do spread mulch around the entire garden area around about now, certainly by Jan., so what I get is what makes it through to sprout almost in spite of me.

Their root systems are shallow and finely textured, not a problem. Pulling them up once they are full grown can be painful due to the small spikes along the stem. Wear gloves. They do best in full sun but mine get afternoon shade and still grow to be over 6 ft tall, blooming Summer thru Fall. Now I am wondering if they require stratification (Winter sowing). Here's the link to a seed germination database that explains each species requirements.

Here is a link that might be useful: germination guide

I love the old timey look of Cleome and have found Cleome very easy to winter sow because they're hardy annuals. When Cleome reseeds, the plants are much taller, but I haven't had to stake them.

Early last Spring I built a berm along the back property line using bags of el cheapo soil and the soil excavated from newly enlarged beds. Amazingly, several Cleome plants managed to sprout and flourish on that berm.

surrealgarden, I've included a link below if you'd like more info on winter sowing.

Here is a link that might be useful: Winter Sowing FAQ's

Cleomes were one of the first annuals I harvested because the seeds are so easy to retrieve.

I agree with dirtysc - they are tough stuff

Carrie

Broken toes are just awful. Not a darn thing a doctor can do but prescribe a stronger analgesic than OTC. It hurts until one day you realize it isn't hurting.

surreal - hope you feel better. Gosh, I remember last year when I started to feel like I was going to fall down the stairs (only three stair left but still scary) and I bent my big toe forward in the fall - didn't even break it - and it really hurt so I feel really bad for you. I hope you feel better really soon - dottie is right - one day it will just stop hurting - Carrie

Thanks for the support! As of today, it has been TWO WEEKS and the toe still hurts. If it doesn't get better soon, I'm going to be wimpy and get an xray. Maybe it's dislocated or something. As for the yard, every day I can step out and enjoy this last bit of beautiful warm weather we have, so all is not lost. There is always a project for another day. I hope to be able to show you how pretty the cleomes are next year. Have a wonderful New Year!

This was my first year with Cleome and I am guessing the birds delivered them because I didn’t plant them but just for example, some of mine were even growing in the window well of my basement among last years leaves that composted I guess. I also had them in a few other unexpected spots and those were in full sun all day and they grew really well and I personally collected the seeds from the pods so I wouldn’t end up with a mess of them everywhere all tho they are beautiful! Some say wait for the pods to turn brown and then collect the seeds but trust me while they are green you can touch them between two fingers gently and they will open right in your hand and seeds fall out and if they aren’t ready they won’t open.