Gaura Lindheimeri is a North American Perennial Herbaceous Wildflower Plant
These flowers, V4 in wide, are balanced like white butterflies at the top of their tall thin stems, which grow up to 39 in in height. The perennial originally came from the south of the United States and became a popular plant for borders in England. On the continent of Europe, however, it cannot survive most winters. It is therefore better to grow the plant there as an annual, either by taking cuttings in summer, or by sowing indoors early in the year. In that case, the plants will bear flowers from July of the same year until far into September.
The cultivar most frequently on sale is Gaura lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterflies,’ a strong grower bearing pure white flowers. Gaura lindheimeri ‘Corrie Gold’ has gold-variegated leaves.
Gaura Lindheimeri is a North American wildflower, now widely grown across the continent. Plants bloom for many weeks, with loose sprays of white flowers tinged with pale pink. In the breeze these move constantly, looking like a cloud of small butterflies. Although Gaura may not always winter reliably, plants flower for the entire summer and fall, so consider using it even as an annual in colder winter regions. New plants will often appear from self sown seedlings. Superb in containers, the subtle colour blends easily in borders. Drought tolerant once established.
It is a perennial herbaceous plant growing to 50–150 cm tall, with densely clustered branched stems growing from an underground rhizome. The leaves are finely hairy, lanceolate, 1–9 cm long and 1–13 mm broad, with a coarsely toothed margin. The flowers are produced on a 10–80 cm long inflorescence; they are pink or white, 2–3 cm diameter, with four petals 10–15 mm long and long hairlike stamens, and are produced from the beginning of spring until the first frost
