Spider flower is a fast-growing annual that typically rises 3 to 6 feet tall on rigid stems. Blooms appear at the ends of the stems and are clusters of pink, purple or white spider-like flowers with protruding stamens, and it blooms from summer to frost. Flowers are sweetly fragrant. Flowers are followed by thin seed pods that ripen to brown before splitting open and dispersing the seed. Aromatic, sticky, palmate green leaves with lance-shaped leaflets have sharp spines at the base of each leaf stalk. Attractive to hummingbirds (nectar), birds (seed), and butterflies.
Grow in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates light shade. Best with consistent watering during the growing season, but once established, plants will tolerate some drought. If seed pods are not promptly removed, plants will self-seed, often aggressively. Hybrids may not come true from seed. Synonymous with C. spinosa.