Seed care and plant identification

Dear Roger: I collected seeds from my cleome plants for next year's crop. I have noticed small spiders running in the container where I keep the seeds. I am wondering if it's OK to use an aerosol insecticide to get rid of them without hurting the seeds. — Blaine

Dear Blaine: It's fine to spray seeds with an aerosol containing pyrethrins or resmethrins. The carrier and propellant will evaporate for the most part. If there is a slight residue of oil, it will not impede growth.

However, I do not know any reason why you'd need to kill spiders. They are very helpful insects. I suppose if they're in the wrong place at the wrong time, they might seem to be a nuisance.

See if you can find a way to put them outside where they can feed on insects you'd like to get rid of.

If you're concerned about using an insecticide, wash the seeds in a very fine screen kitchen strainer after they've been removed from the pods. The unfortunate spiders will go down the drain if they are very small. If not, they'll run away or drown.

You also may put the seeds in small plastic bags and store them in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator until you're ready to plant them.

By the way, cleome, or spider flower, is one of my very favorite annuals. It is uniquely formed, showy and graceful. The colors are generally muted pinks and rose to white. The upright form is useful to contrast with low bedding plants.

Dear Roger: Your column about tree problems was just what we needed. The problem sure has hit our two big 'Yoshino' cherry trees, which are dropping leaves earlier than we've ever seen.

I have two plant ID questions: Do you recognize the vine shown in the second picture? I say it is a weed, but Herself says it is something she planted.

And do you recognize the plant in the third picture? It is something that She Who Must Buy All Available Plants picked up yesterday. No one where she bought it had any idea of what it is. Hmmmmm.

Dear Pat: Stop picking on your wife and I'll answer your questions. The first plant is sweet autumn clematis, alias Clematis ternifolia. This plant goes by more aliases than a three-time loser, but ternifolia is my pick.

Many people think it is native. It is not. It comes from Japan. It seeds readily and comes up in unlikely, and often unwanted places. But it is beautiful, probably the most beautiful white-flowering fall vine.

Its vanilla fragrance is captivating to bees, butterflies and humans. You are lucky to have it, but unlucky that it appears to be in the wrong place.

Try to find a spot where this vine can be allowed to climb 30 feet and serenade your sniffer with eau de vanilla each autumn.

The other plant is Pedilanthus tithymaloides, also known as devil's backbone and zigzag plant. It is in the euphorbia family and is related to our Christmas poinsettias.

Send your questions and comments to Roger at orders@mercergarden.com or call (910) 424-4756. You may write to Roger at 6215 Maude St., Fayetteville, N.C. 28306.