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How to Grow Gaura: A Guide to the Graceful Whirling Butterfly Flower

Oenothera lindheimeri, Lindheimer's beeblossom, white gaura, Lindheimer's clockweed, and Indian feather, a species of Oenothera
Photo Credit
NataliaVo
Botanical Name
Oenothera lindheimeri
Plant Type
Flowers
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Soil pH
Neutral
Bloom Time
Summer
Flower Color
Multicolor
Pink
White
Hardiness Zone
5
6
7
8
9
Special Features
Attracts Bees
Attracts Butterflies
Attracts Pollinators

Planting, Growing, and Caring for Gauras

Jennifer Keating
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If you’re searching for a flower that flutters like a butterfly and thrives like a champ, look no further than gaura! Also called “whirling butterflies” for its airy blooms that dance in the breeze, gaura is a carefree stunner that adds grace to any garden bed, container, or wildflower patch. Native to the southern U.S. and Mexico, this perennial is perfect for pollinators, tolerant of drought, and just downright pretty. Let’s dive into how to grow gaura and keep it blooming all season long!

About Gaura

The name Gaura comes from the Greek word gauros, meaning “superb”—and indeed it is. A member of the evening primrose family (Onagraceae), gaura plants can range from 15 inches (dwarf) to 4 feet tall. Gaura’s small (1/2- to 1-inch-diameter), four-petal, pink, white, or bicolor flowers appear on wiry stems (aka “wands”) beginning in early summer and continue to do so if stems are cut back to allow for new growth, until the first hard frost. See your personalized frost dates.

The flowers attract bees and sometimes butterflies, and the plant is a host to the white-lined sphinx moth, a beneficial species. Gauras are tolerant of both drought and high temperatures. When they are planted in-ground, their long taproot goes deep for moisture; container plantings, though, need water—provided sparingly—for best flowering. 

Gaura is an herbaceous, clump-forming perennial native to Texas, Louisiana, and Mexico. It is hardy in Zones 5 to 9, but in cold zones, it is often treated as or performs like an annual. The plant is also suitable for naturalizing in a mixed border or in wildflower or native plant gardens. 

The plant is considered an easy-to-grow perennial, but it is not necessarily long-lived outside of its native areas, where cold temperatures and/or persistently wet soil can affect its survival. It is also suitable for naturalizing (in-ground) in a mixed border or in wildflower or native plant gardens. Check out more popular plants for naturalizing.

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Planting

Purchasing plants is recommended, at least initially. Gaura may self-seed (naturalize) if flower stems are not pruned out in fall (to minimize seeding, remove them when flowers fade); alternatively, seeds (reddish brown, inside nutlike capsules) may be saved for sowing in spring. The large root makes propagation by division a challenge, so this is seldom advised.

Where to Grow Gaura

Gaura does well in sandy, loamy, well-draining soil, but it will tolerate poor soil as well. Avoid excessive aged manure and minimize fertilizer, as these can cause plants to flop over. Poor drainage can result in root rot; the plant may not survive wet soil in winter.

Provide full sun. Some afternoon shade is tolerated, but too much shade can cause flopping.

The name of these flowers is gaura, Lindheimer's beeblossom. Scientific name is Gaura lindheimeri.
Photo: Liviu Gherman

Growing

Water occasionally but deeply, especially if you are growing your gaura in containers.

Fertilizer is not necessary. 

If plants become leggy and/or flop over, provide artificial support, plant closer together, or introduce other plants to provide support.

Prune out spent flower spikes for additional blooms. Cut back tall plants by half in late spring to maintain form.

Remove flower stems in fall and eliminate dead foliage in spring.

Types

  • Oenothera Ballerina series: white, pink, or rose blooms; does not self-seed; compact, 1-1/2 to 2 feet tall.
  • O. ‘Dauphine’: white-to-pink blooms; 4 to 5 feet tall.
  • O. ‘Siskiyou Pink’: maroon flower buds, pink blooms; 2-1/2 to 3 feet tall • O. ‘Snowstorm’: pink and white flowers; 2 to 3 feet tall.
  • O. ‘Star Pink,’ aka ‘Karalee Petite Pink’: deep pink flowers; 2 feet tall.
  • O. ‘Whirling Butterflies’: heavy-blooming; red stems, pink flower buds, white blooms; 2 to 3 feet tall.
Gardening Products

Pests/Diseases

Diseases: cotton root rot, powdery mildew, and rust. 

Pests: aphids, flea beetles, and whiteflies.

Wit and Wisdom

  • Ferdinand Jacob Lindheimer, after whom more than 20 plant species (and one genus) were named, is known as the “Father of Texas Botany.” The Texas rat snake (Pantherophis obsoletus lindheimeri) is also named in his honor.
  • Lindheimer cofounded the city of New Braunfels, Texas, where his house (which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970) is preserved as a museum. He was the first editor of the newspaper in that city, which is today called the Herald-Zeitung.
  • Lindheimer’s plant essays and articles were published in German in 1879 and translated by John E. Williams for publication by Texas A&M University Press.
Flowers
About The Author

Jennifer Keating

Jennifer is the Digital Editor at The Old Farmer’s Almanac. She is an active equestrian and spends much of her free time at the barn. When she’s not riding, she loves caring for her collection of house plants, baking, and playing in her gardens. Read More from Jennifer Keating
 

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Comments

Lisa Clark (not verified)

3 weeks 2 days ago

Hi- I planted three Siskiyou Pink Gauras last fall. One is not entirely dead, but not coming back like the other two. The crown has a tightly bunched, reddish growth that I’m having trouble identifying. Is this a disease that indicates plant removal? Or should I wait to see what happens? Thanks!

Hi Lisa, Yep, go with your gut. We would wait to see what happens. Gaura can appear slow to grow. Do they have equal and sufficient sunlight? This plant can sometimes be short-lived and not overwinter well, so, as the song goes, two out of three ain’t bad.


 

Betsy (not verified)

8 months 3 weeks ago

I planted two of the 'siskou pink' variety this May of 2024. One of the plants is real tall and wispy, the other more compact. It's now Sept, and only 1 bloom so far.
I'm wondering if it's normal for them not to bloom much the first season.

Hi Betsy -

We would recommend confirming that your plants are getting enough sun — you certainly should have had more flowers this year! You also may want to try cutting the wispy stems to encourage more growth.

Frances Gale (not verified)

9 months 3 weeks ago

I have "Bantam Pink" Guara, which is 3 years old. I live in zone 6B and my Guara flourishes. I love it's wispy foliage and delicate pink flowers.