Cleome Violet Queen really earns its name — the purple blooms are nothing short of sumptuous. Each airy, lightly scented flower head can reach 12–15cm across, creating a striking display that bees love. As the flowers fade, they’re followed by slender seed pods, which later become a handy food source for birds. Tall, long-lasting, and full of character, this is a real showstopper for beds, borders, or cutting.
🌸 Flowering: June to September.
📏 Height: to 120cm
🌿Annual
SOW: sow your seeds between March and May in pots or small trays with seed compost. Cover them lightly with some perlite or vermiculite, and pop them somewhere warm during the day—like a sunny windowsill, greenhouse, or cold frame. They usually take about 2 weeks to sprout.
GROW: after they’ve started growing, keep them protected and pot them on if they get too crowded. Once you’re sure the frost risk has gone, plant them outside in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Space the plants around 20–25cm apart so they have room to spread out. They’ll reward you with those striking purple blooms all summer long.
ENJOY: looks stunning paired with verbena, brilliant with sunflowers, and honestly works with just about anything. Bees and butterflies can’t get enough of it. Careful picking (watch for the little spine at the base of each leaf) will reward you with unique, long-stemmed cut flowers.
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