African spider plant
Cleome gynandra
A favourite leafy green across East Africa, cooked with milk or groundnuts; ready in five weeks.
Hardiness: zones 6 to 12
Light: full sun
Size: about 3 ft tall, 1.5 ft wide
Harvest: June to September
From: Tropical Africa
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food, pollinators.
Native to: African savannas & tropics. Hardy in zones 6 to 12.
The story
Cleome, the African spider plant, is the most important traditional leafy vegetable across eastern and southern Africa, grown in home plots and gathered wild, cooked with milk or groundnut by Luo, Kikuyu and Shona households; it is being revived as a nutritious crop.
Planting
Full sun, any drained soil, and heat; sow seed directly after frost, thinly, and thin to 6 inches. It self-sows readily.
Growing
Water in dry spells; pinch the tips to keep it leafy. It grows fast and bolts in six weeks, so sow often.
Harvest and use
Pick leaves and young shoots from three weeks on; cook well, as they are bitter raw. Leaves are dried for the dry season.
What to watch for
Aphids and flea beetles; bolting.
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General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home