Tarenaya hassleriana (Chodat) Iltis

Common spider flower; pink queen

Herb

Annual

Vascular

Common Spider Flower is an introduced herbaceous annual in the Caper family (Cleomaceae). It is native to Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. In Alabama it is often cultivated and can be found as an escape statewide. Common Spider Flower occurs around old home sites, in fields, on roadside, and in other sunny, disturbed habitats. It is an annual with a tap root. Stems are 1-4 feet in height, sparsely branched, green in color, and glandular pubescent. Leaves are spirally arranged, petiolate, palmately compound with 5-7 leaflets, and with small spines on the stipules at the base of the petiole. The leaflets are elliptic to oblanceolate in outline, serrate, and glandular pubescent. All parts of the plant have a fetid scent when crushed. Flowers are produced in terminal racemes. Each flower is subtended by a leaf-like bract. Flowers are rotate with 4 green sepals and 4 pink or purple oblong petals. The petals often fade to white with age. Each flower has 6 long purple stamens. The fruit is a capsule. This species has gone by the name Cleome hassleriana in the past, and the name “Cleome” is still sometimes used as a common name for the species. Common Spider Flower is cultivated as a warm season annual in Alabama with numerous cultivars available. Plants prefer a sunny location with a moist but well-draining soil. They will often re-seed in the garden.—A. Diamond

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Not Native

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