Nectaries are fascinating as they display a wide range of morphologies and placement across angiosperms only unified by function of exuding nectar. Cleomaceae represents an ideal group to investigate the developmental and genetic bases of floral nectaries. The family houses considerable nectary diversity, including size, placement, and morphology.  Developmental and anatomical studies reveal that the nectaries range from structured protrusions or concavities to inconspicuous and challenging to discern from the receptacle. Regardless of the diversity in form, nectaries share nectarostomata as the mechanism of nectar secretion in all species examined. Transcriptomic analyses and functional studies of Cleome violacea, a species with a conspicuous nectary, demonstrate some conservation in the genetic pathway in nectary formation with Arabidopsis thaliana and other core Eudicots. Specifically, CRABS CLAW, redundantly with AGAMOUS and SHATTERPROOF, is required for nectary initiation. Combined these data shed light on the extent and intricacies of nectary development flowering plants.