Gaura
Oenothera lindheimeri
Also known as: Gaura lindheimeri (former name), Whirling butterflies
Perennial with slender stems and white or pink flowers that look like butterflies. It flowers from early summer until the cold, and copes with heat and drought.
- Type
- Perennial
- Where
- Outdoor
- Light
- Sun
- Water
- Little water
- Cold
- Withstands cold; in winter it may lose its top growth
Where to plant it
In full sun, in light, well-drained soil; it tolerates clay if it doesn’t get waterlogged. In very rich soils or with too much shade, the stems grow long and flop over. It self-seeds easily, so new plants may pop up in other corners of the garden.
Watering
It has a taproot that makes it resistant to drought and heat. Once established it copes well with lack of water, although with some watering it flowers more. Water in moderation: that way it grows more compact and with more flowers.
Pruning
Cutting off spent flowers extends the flowering and stops it seeding everywhere. In late spring you can cut it back by half its height so it stays lower. In autumn cut down the flower stems and, in spring, remove the dry leaves.
Feeding
A little. Soil that’s too rich or too much fertiliser gives lots of leaves and fewer flowers.
In our climate
It copes with heat and drought, so it fits well in low-water gardens. Although it’s a perennial, each plant doesn’t usually live many years; since it self-seeds, the bed keeps renewing itself. If you’re thinking about a low-water garden, we can help with the design and the irrigation.
Common problems
Root rot
How to spot it
The plant declines and can die. It happens mainly in heavy soils that hold water.
What to do
Plant it in soil that drains well and water in moderation. It tolerates clay soil as long as it doesn't get waterlogged.