Cleome is an annual grown for its blooms, which open from spring through fall. It's hardy across USDA zones 2 through 11, shrugs off deer and shrugs off dry spells. Its flowers are a real draw for honeybees, native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Zones
2-11
pH Range
5-7.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
80
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What Cleome is
Cleome grows as an annual and reaches around four feet at maturity. It blooms from spring through fall. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Cleome
Cleome grows in USDA zones 2 through 11. Cleome does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground. It needs around 1,000 growing degree days to mature, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
2-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
Growable Ground plant catalog
Drainage
well (dry spells)
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost Tolerance
50°F
The lowest temperature it shrugs off — below this, expect damage without cover.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Days to Maturity
80 days
Growable Ground plant catalog
GDD Required
1000+
Growing degree-days of accumulated warmth it needs to mature — humid summers reach this faster than cool coastal ones.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Mature Height
4 ft
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost-Free Days
0+
The frost-free stretch it needs start to finish — short-season areas may need an indoor head start.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Start the season right
Plant cleome in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Cleome prefers pH 5 to 7.5 (FAO ECOCROP). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at its peak
Cut cleome blooms in the cool of the morning, just as they open, for the longest display.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — cleome isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Cleome is a standout pollinator plant — high value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society.)
Where Cleome thrives
On hardiness alone, cleome grows across most of the country — its range (USDA zones 2 through 11) is unusually wide. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 2–11·Where Cleome growsOpen map →
Continental US shown — Alaska and US Pacific territories sit outside the federal map's polygon dataset.
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Cleome can grow in these states:
See if Cleome will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether cleome actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Cleome in my zone?
Cleome grows in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Cleome?
Most growers plant cleome after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Cleome need?
Cleome needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Cleome need?
Cleome prefers soil pH 5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground (FAO ECOCROP). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Cleome attract pollinators?
Yes — cleome's flowers are a strong nectar and pollen source for honeybees, native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. (Source: Xerces Society.)
Is Cleome safe for pets?
Cleome is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data. Always supervise pets around new plantings. (Source: ASPCA.)