Ask-a-Dave's-Gardener: Is Cleome Plant invasive?, 1 by brendak654

brendak654 wrote:
I don't consider the Cleome invasive at all. They reseed, but no big deal as you can easily pull them out if you don't want them. It is an annual, so the mother plant is gone next year. When the plant is done and ugly (probably after frost or late in the season if it gets really dry) and you want to pull it up, just use a pair of gloves because it has a tendency to have a bit of a sticker on the main stem. It will probably get about 4 feet tall unless you bought the very expensive "Senoretta Rosaletta" which is much shorter and does not reproduce. Which color did you get? I think there is an apple blossom, a purple, a pink and the white which is what I have in the photo below. It is tall white in the far back in my photo (probably 8 plants). They form their seed early on kind of like a tiny been pod. Wherever you plant them, they will seed and most likely some will come up in 2015. They do not transplant very well. So if you like the plant and want more next year in a different area (which you probably will), save you a few dried seed during the summer/fall. Looks like you're my neighbor (Anna). I could share seed later in 2014 if you like-let me know-what I will have are the pink for sure. The white do not reseed for me as well as the pink. So I always have the pink year after year. I have had them for years, just because they are one of those annuals that will reseed. A keeper for me. Enjoy your Cleome.