Cleome, or spider flower, is an annual known for its exceedingly long seedpods. They develop below the flowers as bloom progresses upward on the stalk to give the plants a spidery look, as do the projecting stamens of the flowers. Cleome flowers, with many opening at once, grow in airy racemes, or clusters of flowers, 15 to 20 cm in diameter. Cleome flowers come in white, pink, or lavender. They perch atop stems that grow up to 1 meter high. Cleome grows well in average soil located in full or nearly full sun. It is very drought-tolerant, though it will look and grow better if it is watered well. Space the spider flower plants 20 to 40 cm apart. Plant cleome for its height, to back up borders, in the centre of island beds, or in any spot where its dramatic quality stands out.

Cleome monophylla, commonly known as Enkelblaarcleome or Rusperbossie in Afrikaans and Single-leaved Cleome, Spider Flower or Spindlepod in English is a South African indigenous species found growing in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and North West Provinces. This species is widespread across northern, central and eastern South Africa. It is also widespread across Africa, extending across the Middle East as far as India. It is an erect annual herb, occurring in a wide variety of habitats. The stems and leaves have glandular hairs.