Houston's favorite garden center devoted to Texas native plants and organic gardening.
Botanical name: Gaura lindheimeri
Tall and airy plants feature dainty 4 petaled pink and white flowers, resembling butterflies, on tall stems that sway in the breeze; blooming all summer long, great for beds, borders and containers; excellent cut flower; heat and drought tolerant.
| Hardiness zone | 4b |
|---|---|
| Flower color | white |
| Foliage type | deciduous * |
| Plant form | over mound |
| Mature height | 18 inches (3 feet with the flowers) |
| Spread | 18 inches |
| Light requirements | full sun to partial shade |
| Moisture requirements | dry to moist |
| Plant origin | Texas Native |
* deciduous = loses leaves in winter
Butterfly Gaura features dainty spikes of white star-shaped flowers with pink overtones rising above the foliage from early summer to early fall, which emerge from distinctive rose flower buds. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its narrow leaves remain green in color throughout the season. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.
Butterfly Gaura is an open herbaceous perennial with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.
This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Butterfly Gaura is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Mass Planting, Border Edging, General Garden Use, Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens, Container Planting
Butterfly Gaura will grow to be about 18 inches tall at maturity extending to 3 feet tall with the flowers, with a spread of 18 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 15 inches apart. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 8 years.
This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is native to parts of our region.
Butterfly Gaura is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
Our Monthly To-Do List For Your Garden
