Elegant, airy spider flower is a striking plant to put at the back of the border or anyplace you need

tall plants. Growing 3 to 6 feet, depending on growing conditions, this annual (grows just one year)

has 4-inch clustered flower heads with elongated stamens and long seedpods. It comes in pink, lavender

and white.
 
  
 
 
1.   Buy healthy, green plants with no signs of wilting or disease. Plants should be stocky, with

plenty of leaves. 
 
2.   Choose a site in full sun to partial shade with average to rich soil. 
 
3.   Plant seedlings in spring after all danger of frost has passed, spacing them 1 to 2 feet apart.

Spider flower looks best in groups of eight or more. 
 
4.   Keep soil moist, especially in hot weather. Mulching is a good idea. 
 
5.   Stake plants located in windy or shady sites to prevent flopping. 
 
6.   Fertilize every six to eight weeks, or work in a slow-release fertilizer (or plenty of compost)

at planting time. 
 
7.   Tear out and discard plants in fall, after frost fells them. 
 

 Plant shorter, bushier plant varieties in front of spider flower plants to hide their long stalks,

which get spindly in late summer. 
 
  
 Keep spider flower amply watered, especially in late summer. Otherwise, its growth may be stunted and

it will flower less.