Yellow Spiderflower

Cleomella lutea

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Cleomaceae
Genus:
Cleomella
Species:
Cleomella lutea

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Annual
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
3-4 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
may, sep
Bloom Colors:
yellow

Native Range

United States: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Checkered White (Pontia protodice), Western white (Pontia occidentalis)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
native to arid regions, prefers open, sunny areas

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Seeds were plated on 1.5% agar in petri dishes and incubated in growth chambers using six temperature treatments intended to represent different seed sowing times and locations in the Colorado Plateau.

Establishment: Additional research is needed to confirm the specific length of winter conditions needed to break dormancy and allow germination. The number of days in cold stratification required for germination varied significantly by the source population.

Source: npn.rngr.net