Cleome houtteana
Tall annual with pink, purple, or white flowers and long, whisker-like stamens
Cleome houtteana is a tall annual plant from southern South America, grown for its showy flowers with long stamens that resemble spider legs. Its blooms, which may be pink, purple, or white, have a strong scent and are popular in gardens in many temperate regions.
- Native to Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and southeast Brazil
- Flowers can be pink, purple, or white with long, whisker-like stamens
- Strong scent, sometimes compared to citronella or skunky odors
- Often mistaken for cannabis due to similar leaves and smell
- Several garden cultivars, including the 'Queen' series
What does Cleome houtteana look like?
Cleome houtteana is a tall, upright annual that can reach up to 180 cm. Its leaves are arranged in a spiral and divided into five or seven narrow leaflets, each up to 12 cm long. The plant produces clusters of flowers at the top, each with four petals and six long, thin stamens that stick out like whiskers. The flowers come in shades of pink, purple, or white, and have a strong, sometimes sharp scent. After flowering, it forms slender seed capsules up to 15 cm long.
Where does Cleome houtteana come from?
This plant is native to the southern parts of South America, including Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and southeastern Brazil. It has spread to other regions, such as Bangladesh and India, where it has been introduced and is sometimes grown in gardens. Over time, it has become popular in temperate climates around the world for its striking appearance and long flowering season.
When and how Cleome houtteana blooms
Cleome houtteana grows as an annual, completing its life cycle in one season. It is usually sown in spring and blooms from late spring through early autumn. The plant prefers sunny spots and well-drained soil. Gardeners often grow it from seed, either directly in the ground or started indoors. Several cultivated varieties have been developed, offering different flower colors and forms.
How Cleome houtteana is used
People mainly grow Cleome houtteana for its bold and unusual flowers, which are used to add height and texture to garden beds and borders. The plant is also valued for its long blooming period and ability to attract attention in mixed plantings. Some gardeners cut the flowers for arrangements, though the strong scent is not to everyone's taste.
Kinds of Cleome houtteana
There are several named varieties and series, such as the 'Queen' series, which includes 'Violet Queen', 'Rose Queen', and 'White Queen', each selected for their flower color. The cultivar 'Helen Campbell' is another well-known form. Plants are sometimes confused with other Cleome species or even with cannabis, due to the shape of their leaves and overall growth.
What Cleome houtteana means
Cleome houtteana is grown mainly for ornamental purposes and does not have a strong presence in folklore or symbolism. Its unusual look and scent have led to confusion with other plants, but it is mostly valued by gardeners for its decorative qualities and the variety of cultivars available.
Questions people ask about Cleome houtteana
Where does Cleome houtteana come from?
Cleome houtteana is native to southern South America, especially Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and southeastern Brazil. It has also been introduced to places like Bangladesh and India.
What does Cleome houtteana look like?
This plant grows upright, reaching up to 180 cm, with palm-shaped leaves and clusters of pink, purple, or white flowers that have long stamens resembling spider legs.
Why is Cleome houtteana sometimes confused with cannabis?
The leaves of Cleome houtteana are divided into narrow leaflets and the plant has a similar growth habit and odor, which can cause people to mistake it for cannabis.
What is Cleome houtteana used for?
It is mainly grown as a garden ornamental for its striking flowers and long blooming season. Some people also use its flowers in cut arrangements.
Does Cleome houtteana have any special meaning or symbolism?
There is no strong tradition of symbolism or cultural meaning attached to Cleome houtteana; it is valued mostly for its decorative qualities.
Good reading and sources
- Cleome hassleriana 'Helen Campbell'Royal Horticultural Society, Article
- NParksNational Parks Board, Singapore, Article
- Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
- Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
- Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database
- Cleome houtteana on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Cleome houtteana", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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