How to combine cleomes?

In a romantic or exotic flowering pot

To brighten terraces, balconies or windowsills, Cleome makes it easy to create beautiful flowering window boxes or containers.

For a romantic look, pair it with summer bulbs such as single-flowered dahlias. Choose them in white or pink shades, such as ‘Happy Single Princess’ and ‘Happy Single Juliet’. Complete the display with a small sun-tolerant fuchsia, such as ‘Beacon Rosa’. Also consider the delicate flowers of Clarkia, like those of Clarkia pulchella ‘Snowflake’. To add lightness, include a small ornamental grass such as Carex. For a slightly brighter colour, also consider the dwarf Tibouchina ‘Groovy baby’, a small shrub with large purple flowers. Hardy geraniums will also make good companions for our Cleomes.

But Cleome can also create a more exotic atmosphere, thanks to its palmate, divided foliage. As companions, offer it summer bulbs such as Alstroemerias, with their speckled, trumpet-shaped flowers. Opt for varieties from the ‘Duc d’Anjou’ collections, such as ‘Edouard’, ‘François’ or ‘Pierre’ to keep within similar shades. Also consider the very floriferous Crocosmias, with their charming funnel-shaped flowers in warm tones. Add small Cannas, those essential rhizomatous plants for an exotic feel. Opt for, for example, ‘Pink President’, or ‘Angelique’ for a bit more pep. For a lighter touch, complete the display with a Pennisetum orientale with pretty pink spikes.

A romantic ambience, clockwise from top: Dahlia ‘Happy Single Princess’, Tibouchina ‘Groovy baby’, Geranium ‘Johnson’s Blue’, Dahlia ‘Happy Single Juliet’, Cleome ‘Senorita Rosalita’, Carex flacca, Fuchsia ‘Beacon Rosa’

In an English-inspired mixed border

One characteristic of the mixed border is to play with a colour theme. With our Cleomes, you can create a lovely pastel palette in whites and pinks. Pale violet flowers in soft shades can also be included.

For this English-inspired border, first plant architectural specimens such as foxgloves with their tall flower spikes made up of little bells. Choose, for example, Digitalis purpurea ‘Camelot Rose’ or ‘Alba’.

Continue with perennials such as Iris germanica, which will flower in spring, ahead of summer blooms. Opt for ‘Brindled Beauty’ or ‘Dame Blanche’. Repeat-flowering varieties such as ‘Cherished’ and ‘Frappé’ have the advantage of being able to flower again in late summer. To precede summer flowering, also consider spring bulbs, for example planting Amaryllis.

Add oriental poppies with their large blooms and contrasting centres, such as ‘Checkers’ and the dynamic ‘Raspberry Brulee’. Agapanthus, with their attractive flower spikes, will also make good companions, such as ‘Glacier Stream’ or ‘Megan’s Mauve’.

Other perennials iconic to mixed borders can be added. Turn to Delphiniums, Echinaceas, Filipendulas or Lupins.

Plant Cleomes with groundcover or small grasses at their feet. Plant several to create good volume and a massing effect. For example, add a Stachys byzantina, with its mat-forming habit and silver wooly foliage, which will bring softness and balance. In the same spirit, plant grey-leaved achilleas, such as Achillea ageratifolia or Achillea kellereri. To complete the picture, finally add light, architectural grasses, such as Miscanthus.

In mixed border: Cleome ‘Senorita Carolina’, Echinacea purpurea, Agapanthus ‘Megan’s Mauve’, Stachys byzantina, Digitalis, Iris germanica ‘Frappé’, Papaver ‘Patty’s Plum’

In meadow-style border with summer flowering

Cleomes quickly add volume to a flower border, thanks to their bushy silhouette. Their colourful flowering will also be perfect for brightening a sunny, naturalistic flower border.

For a wildflower fallow look, pair your Cleomes with other annuals as companions. Start with Cosmos, with flowers as charming as they are varied. Also consider Chrysanthemums, Daisies, Zinnias and Marigolds. Amaranths, with their astonishing drooping blooms, will also fit in very well.

On the perennial side, include Gauras, airy Buenos Aires verbena, and Phlox, which will quickly form a true flowering cushion.

Complete the picture with grasses, such as Stipas or Miscanthus, which will further accentuate the rustic, natural effect.

Cleome ‘Senorita Rosalita’, Cosmos Xanthos yellow, Chrysanthemum ‘Julia’, Verbena bonariensis, Stipa tenuifolia, Gaura ‘Rosy Jane’, golden daisy

Pretty edging to define borders

Choose the smallest varieties to create a pretty border in garden or vegetable patch. Opt for, for example, pink-flowered Cleomes ‘Sparkler Blush’ and ‘Senorita Carolina’.

For lightness and if site isn’t too hot, add Ophiopogons with a grass-like appearance. Choose, for example, those with contrasting black foliage, such as O. planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ or O. planiscapus ‘Black Dragon’.

Continue to play with decorative foliage and fairly low-growing plants with Bergenias, prized for their thick, glossy rounded leaves. Heucheras with a rich range of colours will also make good companions.

Cleome ‘Senorita Carolina’, Bergenia ‘Baby Doll’, Heuchera ‘Mint Marquess’, Ophiopgon nigrescens

For shrub hedging

You can easily pair taller cleomes with shrubs in a hedge. Our annuals with a flexible habit can use their companions for support, without needing sometimes unsightly staking. Also, place them in a sheltered spot to prevent stems from flopping to the ground.

For example, choose Cleomes ‘Senorita Blanca’ and ‘Sparkler White’ with white flowers (80 cm tall), or the ‘Sparkler Rose’ version (90 cm tall).

Pair them with generously flowering shrubs such as Buddleias, Ceanothus, Abelias or Roses. For an airy touch, also consider the smoke tree Cotinus coggygria, with its summer flowering in pink plumes.

For decorative evergreen foliage, consider Photinias, Mexican orange blossom, Elaeagnus and certain varieties of Berberis.

Cleome ‘Senorita Blanca’, Buddleia, Cotinus coggyria, Ceanothus ‘Blue Saphhire’, Abelia, Choisya ternata ‘Aztec Pearl’