Great Design Plant: Rocky Mountain Beeplant (Cleome serrulata) — Pollinator Powerhouse

For dry, sunny, well-drained spots where nothing grows, Rocky Mountain beeplant (Cleome serrulata) delivers late-summer flower profusion and abundant nectar. Gardeners report massive pollinator numbers — you have to see it to believe it.

Botanical name: Cleome serrulata
Common names: Rocky Mountain beeplant, skunk weed, cleome, spider flower
Origin: Native from ND south to OK and west, with scattered pockets in upper Midwest (OH, MI to MO, MN)
Zones: 3–8 (hardy to –40°F)
Water: Medium to dry soil
Light: Full sun
Size: 3–4 ft tall and wide
Benefits: Very drought-tolerant; superb nectar source for bees and pollinators
Seasonal interest: Blooms mid to late summer
When to plant: Sow seed outdoors late fall through midwinter or allow self-sowing; difficult in nursery pots.

Distinguishing Traits

Showy for weeks in late summer. Bright flowers aren't the only performers — bees and pollinators gorge on copious nectar.

See more ways to invite bees into the garden

How to Use It

Make a statement in a wide border. For maximum impact, plant a thick, healthy stand — pollinators more easily find a group than a loner. Airy, thin foliage aids drought tolerance but reduces visibility; let height stand unopposed. Surround with shorter grasses like little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) or sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) to evoke arid Plains, deserts, mountains.

Planting Notes

Prefers sandy soil; well-drained lean soil works. Annual but self-sows in open soil — don't over-mulch. Better: let green mulch (grasses/sedges) do the work. Not common in pots (finicky). Sow thickly late fall through midwinter; benefits from weeks of cold, wet weather for spring germination.

More: Browse plants native to other U.S. regions. Learn more about beneficial insects for your garden.