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 serrulata (Rocky Mountain Beeweed, Rocky Mountain Beeplant, Bee Spiderflower) is a species of Cleome, native to western North America from southern British Columbia, east to Minnesota and Illinois, and south to New Mexico and northernmost California. It is also naturalized further east in North America. It is an annual plant growing 90-120 cm tall, with spirally arranged leaves. The leaves are trifoliate, with three slender leaflets each 1-7 cm long. The flowers are reddish-purple, pink, or white, with four petals and six long stamens that attracts bees to the garden.