Cleome spinosa, commonly known as Spiny Spiderflower, is an annual herb native to South America and the West Indies. It has been introduced to the United States, tropical Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, Vietnam, New Caledonia, and Korea. This plant typically grows to a height of 3-5 feet (0.9-1.5 meters) and features palmately compound leaves with spiny stems. The Spiny Spiderflower blooms from early summer to fall, producing large, showy clusters of pink, purple, or white flowers with long, protruding stamens that give the appearance of spiders, hence the name.

The Spiny Spiderflower is valued for its ornamental flowers and is often used in borders, cottage gardens, and as a background plant in annual beds. It thrives in full sun to part shade and prefers well-drained soils. While it is drought-tolerant once established, regular watering promotes optimal growth and flowering. It is relatively easy to maintain, but gardeners should handle it with care due to its spiny stems. Tarenaya spinosa can self-seed prolifically, which contributes to its potential invasiveness in non-native regions.CC BY-SA 4.0