Flora Fauna Web - Plant Detail - Cleome hassleriana Chodat

Record Info

Life Stage & Characteristics

Plant Division :
Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)

Plant Growth Form :
Shrub (Herbaceous)

Lifespan (in Singapore) :
Annual

Mode of Nutrition :
Autotrophic

Plant Shape :
Shrubby

Maximum Height :
0.9 m to 1.5 m

Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width :
0.5 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution :
Southern South America (Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, SE Brazil)
Preferred Climate Zone :
Temperate

Description & Ethnobotany

Plant Morphology :
[Others]: Herbaceous annual shrub, up to 1.5m height. Leaves palmately compound (shape resembles Cannabis species - Marijuana), strongly scented, glandular - slightly sticky when rubbed. Thicker stems have sharp spines at base of leaflets.Flowers in dense terminal raceme inflorescences, showy pink, lavender or white petals, long thread-like stamens, attract bees, butterflies and birds. Fruits are long thin capsules (15cm by 3mm), many-seeded, brown and dehiscent when mature. Seeds greenish-brown, comma-shaped.Ideal for flower beds, along fences, in large containers. Suitable for bird and butterfly gardens. Prefers well-drained soils. Established plants are drought-tolerant. Prune off side-shoots for tall slender plants, remove central bud when plant is 30cm tall for shorter, bushier form. Remove spent flowers to prolong flowering. Propagate by seeds - plant also freely self-seeds.

Ethnobotanical Uses :
None

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features :
Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage, Fragrant (Flowers: Day, Time Independent; Foliage; [Remarks]: Strongly scented. Aromatically minty to some, pungent to others.)

Plant & Rootzone Preference/Tolerance :
Dry Soils / Drought, Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils, Easy to Grow

Landscape Uses :
Flowerbed / Border, Interiorscape/ Indoor Plant, Container Planting

Thematic Landscaping :
Naturalistic Garden, Wildflower Garden, Butterfly Garden

Usage Hazards / Cons :
Spines/Thorns - Stem/Branch, [Remarks] (Spines on thick stems at leaf bases. Leaves are resinous and slightly sticky to the touch.)

Fauna, Pollination & Dispersal

Associated Fauna :
Bird-Attracting, Caterpillar Food Plant

Pollination Method(s) :
Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Butterfly, Moth); Insects (Bee); Insects (Ant, Beetle, Fly, Thrip, Wasp); Vertebrates (Bird); Vertebrates (Bat))

Seed / Spore Dispersal :
Abiotic (Explosive Dehiscence)

Plant Care & Propagation

Light Preference :
Full Sun, Semi-Shade, [Remarks]

Water Preference :
Moderate Water, Little Water

Plant Growth Rate :
Fast

Planting Distance :
0.3 m

Maintenance Requirements :
[Remarks] (Remove spent flowers to prolong flowering period.)

Pruning :
Prune side-shoots to get tall slender plant. When plant is 30cm tall, prune central bud to encourage branching, & to get shorter and bushier form.

Propagation Method :
Seed

Propagule Establishment Remarks :
Seed leaves spoon-shaped. True leaves palmately-lobed. Seeds sowed outdoors germinate in 28-45 days.

Foliar

Foliage Retention :
Evergreen

Mature Foliage Colour(s) :
Green

Mature Foliage Texture(s) :
Rough, Sticky, Raised / Sunken Veins

Foliar Modification :
Spine (axillary)

Foliar Type :
Compound (Palmate)

Foliar Arrangement Along Stem :
Spiral

Foliar Shape(s) :
Non-Palm Foliage (Palmate)

Foliar Venation :
Pinnate / Net

Foliar Margin :
Entire - Wavy / Undulate, Palmately Lobed