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 hirta, commonly known as Sticky Purple Spindlepod, is a South African indigenous annual found in the Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. Cleome hirta grows to 1m in height. It has sticky leaves and, from summer to autumn, it produces spectacular mauve flowers with yellow & black markings on the upper petals.