Gaura

Name: Gaura
Brand: Outdoor Dream Builders

Oenothera lindheimeri

Graceful wands of white and pink butterfly-like flowers dance above the foliage from summer through fall.

Hardy in USDA zones 5-9 and reliable in the low desert; root-hardy through frost, semi-evergreen in warm winters, and long-blooming in low to mid elevations.

AMWUA Notes

A low-water perennial that delivers months of delicate bloom on a deep, drought-tapping taproot.

Care Guide

💧Watering

Water every 1-2 weeks in summer once its deep taproot is established; it is quite drought tolerant and dislikes soggy soil.

✂️Pruning

Shear the airy flowering wands back by a third to half after the first flush to spark repeat bloom; cut the whole plant back hard in late winter to renew it.

🌱Fertilizing

Minimal — too much fertilizer produces lax, floppy growth; lean soil keeps the wands upright.

🛡️Pests

Generally trouble-free; can suffer root rot in heavy, wet clay, so ensure good drainage.

☀️Seasonal Notes

Semi-evergreen in mild winters and cut to the ground in cold snaps; reseeds gently and blooms from late spring into fall.

Soil, Feeding & Propagation

🪨Soil

Lean, well-drained sandy or gravelly soils; tolerates poor and rocky ground; dislikes heavy, wet clay.

💧Drainage

Needs well-drained soil.

🌱Nutrient Needs

Low feeder.

🌰Propagation

Seed or division; self-sows gently. The deep taproot makes division and transplanting difficult once established.

📐Spacing

2–3 ft

🌳Roots & Placement

Deep taproot resents disturbance and transplanting; reseeds modestly but is not invasive.

Placement Tips

•Use its see-through, airy texture to soften the middle of a mixed border or float above lower plants.
•Plant in loose groups of 3-5 so the flowering wands create a shimmering, moving haze.
•Let it self-sow among firmer plants that support its lax stems.
•Best in full sun with good drainage; tolerates heat but not standing water.