Sparkler White offers big, 4- to 6-inch spidery blooms of pure white. They hold well on the plant and are wonderfully long-lasting as cut flowers. The dark green foliage is narrow and stylish, too, making an attractive back drop for the big, fluffy blooms.

This plant begins flowering in early summer (as soon as the hot weather arrives) and doesn't quit until the temperature drops in fall. A sun lover, it is at home in the baking-hot border, bed, or patio, and once established is quite tolerant of dry conditions. (Water it well during growth, though, to get it off to a good start.) It rapidly reaches 3 1/2 to 4 feet tall and about 1 1/2 feet wide, with a bushy fullness that adds weight to its presence as an accent, low hedge, poolside planting, or mid-border standout.

If you want other colors to complement Sparkler White, try award-winning Blush plus Lavender or Rose. There is even a mix of all 4, plus an economical collection that gives you a packet of each separate color, for patterning in the garden!

Cleome is a good companion to spreading Petunias in the sun-soaked bed or border. Try it behind the fire-engine red Avalanche or the unusual silvery Tidal Wave. Or, for low-growing coverage, a large, riotous planting of Portulaca Margarita Fruit Splash would be breathtaking!

Tolerant of extreme heat, it is very uniformly sized and floriferous. In other words, a rare find! Start indoors in late winter or directly in the garden when the soil is warm enough to be workable. Pkt is 25 seeds.