Gaura Plant Care and Growing are easy as this stunning perennial wildflower is low maintenance. Check out How to Grow Gaura to flaunt its beautiful blooms in your garden!
Botanical Name: Oenothera lindheimeri
USDA Zones: 5-9
Common Names: Wandflower, Butterfly gaura, Whirling butterfly, Siskiyou pink
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Gaura Plant Information
The genus “Gaura” consists of about 20 species of plants. It is native to North America and has delicate erected foliage with irregularly shaped flowers that makes it attractive.
The flowers are fairly big and can be found in shades of pink, white, or a combination of both. Depending on the variety, the lance-shaped foliage is usually tinged with cream, gold, or pink. The peak time for the blooming season is in early summer, and you can expect your yard to be full of flowers if you are growing this plant in USDA Zones 5-9.
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Types of Gaura
Although there are several cultivated kinds of Gaura that you can pick from, we have made a list of popular ones for you:
1. Corrie’s Gold
The gold in the name is for the gorgeous variegated foliage, not the white blooms with a hint of pink.
2. Passionate Rainbow
If you grow this type of Gaura, you will be blessed with cute pink flowers and foliage with pink edges.
3. Crimson Butterflies
This plant boasts burgundy foliage, red stems, and bright pink flowers. You can grow them with green or blue flowers to create an impression.
4. Sparkle White
In this pretty Gaura variety, you can have elegant white flowers tinged with pink. For its marvelous performance and beauty, it also received the Fleuroselect Gold Medal in 2014.
5. Siskiyou Pink
Grow this variety for the ornamental blooms in a rose pink shade.
6. Gaura Biennis
A tall variety that can grow 3-6 feet high. It has hairy flowering stems and light pink or white colored flowers that turn into coral red in late summer and fall.
7. White Gaura
A Texas native, tolerant to drought. It grows up to 3-5 feet tall, and flowers appear from summer to fall.
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How to Grow Gaura From Seed?
If you want to grow Gaura from seeds, you can start directly in the garden or cell flats indoors.
Remember to provide the seeds with bright enough, indirect sunlight for at least 4-6 hours daily. The seeds usually take 20-35 days to germinate at 70°F or 21°C.
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Propagating Gaura
Propagation by cuttings should be done in spring and late summer or by division in the fall. The division method can be challenging because of the long taproot. Therefore, stem-cutting propagation is the easiest way.
- Take 5-6 inches long cuttings from a healthy, mature plant from the base of the stem.
- Place the cuttings 1-1.5 inches deep in the soil and tap carefully.
- Water well and keep the container in a spot that gets dappled light.
- Usually, it takes about 50-60 days for new growth to start showing. Then, you can transplant the young plants into separate pots of similar size—resume usual care.
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How to Grow Gaura in Pots?
Growing Gaura in pots is possible. Choose a pot that is 10-12 inches deep and 8-10 inches wide to provide sufficient space for the plant.
Keep the pot in a sunny spot and water it only when the top surface of the soil dries out.
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Requirements for Growing Gaura
Sunlight
The planting must be sunny, and exposure to at least 5-6 hours of sunlight is ideal for prolific blooms. If the location is windy, provide support to plants. Do not grow it in the shade, as it will result in fewer or no flowers.
Soil
Gaura grows well in light and sandy soil. Amend the soil with plenty of organic matter and coco peat at the time of planting. You can also add a handful of sand to improve drainage.
Watering
Planting and Growing Gaura is easy. As it adapts well to drought-like conditions, water it only when the topsoil goes a little dry. Do not water the plant daily.
Spacing
The planting distance for low-growing varieties is around 10-12 inches. Space the plants 14-15 inches apart for more shrub-like large types.
Temperature and Humidity
Gaura can tolerate extreme humidity and heat as well as withstand cold. It is ideal for growing in a wide range of climatic conditions.
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Gaura Plant Care
Fertilizer
Gaura doesn’t require additional fertilizer to bloom, and adding too much natural fertilizer can cause the plant to grow limply. To boost growth, use a balanced fertlizer after diluting it to 1/2 of its strength, once in 8-12 weeks.
Application of manure or compost during planting is sufficient.
Deadheading and Pruning
Remove spent flower spikes as soon as they fade, and cut the entire stalk to promote more blooms. Once the blooming period ends in late summer, trim the shrub slightly, like 3-4 inches, to refresh it.
The plant will start to flower again in the fall with more vigor.
Overwintering
Gaura plant care is if you live in a warmer region. During the winter, let the faded stems on site; they protect against the cold.
It is also recommended to mulch around the roots to insulate them, especially if you live below USDA Zone 8.
Pests and Diseases
The Gaura is immune to diseases though excess water, or planting in wet soil can cause root rot. It rarely gets attacked by pests but keeps an eye on common garden pests.
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- Mary Ann McDonald
- September 30, 2018 At 8:32 pm
- Very interesting article
- I saw plant at a nursery in very late summer
- Would like to buy seeds next year
- Reply
Very interesting article I saw plant at a nursery in very late summer Would like to buy seeds next year
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