Gaura
Oenothera lindheimeri
flowerGaura (Oenothera lindheimeri, long known as Gaura lindheimeri), also called whirling butterflies or wand flower, is an airy native perennial of the south-central US prairies. From early summer until frost its wiry, wand-like stems, 3 to 5 ft tall on the species or shorter on compact cultivars, carry a haze of small pink or white flowers that dance in the slightest breeze. A deep taproot makes it exceptionally heat and drought tolerant, perfect for adding movement and a long bloom to lean, sunny borders.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 8 days
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Bloom
~70 days
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Difficulty
easy
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Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
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Spacing
18-24 in apart
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Planting Depth
Set the crown at the soil line
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Soil pH
5.5-6.5
Growing Details
Soil Type
Sandy or loamy, lean, well-drained
Hardiness Zones
Zones 5 – 9
When to Fertilize
Rarely needed; lean soil is best
Fertilizer
Little to none; rich feeding causes flopping
🌱 Growing Guide
Plant gaura in full sun in sandy or loamy, well-drained soil that is on the lean side; rich soil produces floppy foliage and fewer flowers. It is highly drought and heat tolerant once its taproot establishes, and it resents wet feet, which cause root rot. Because the tall species can grow leggy and flop, plant it among supporting perennials or choose a compact cultivar, and shear it back midseason if it sprawls. Deadhead or shear spent wands to keep new flowers coming. Cut it back in fall or early spring; the taproot also makes it tricky to move once established.
🌼 Have a different variety?Cultivars of the same species usually share the same basic care — they differ mainly in flower color, height, and bloom form, not in how you grow them. So this guide still applies even if your exact variety isn't the one shown.
Planting Calendar
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Direct sow
Apr 15
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Projected first bloom
Jun 24
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Salvia — Shares the hot, dry, sunny conditions and adds contrasting upright spikes
- Russian Sage — Another airy, drought-tolerant plant for a soft, see-through border
- Coneflower — A sturdy prairie perennial that supports the floppy gaura stems and shares the site
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
🌸 Blooms & cutting
Gaura is grown for its airy, long-blooming display, not harvest. Shear the plant back by about a third in midsummer if it gets leggy or floppy to refresh it and bring on more bloom, and deadhead spent wands. Cut the whole plant back in late fall or early spring. The wands can be cut for airy filler in arrangements.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Gaura is an ornamental, not edible. Its value is months of airy, butterfly-like bloom and graceful movement in hot, dry, sunny borders where many perennials fail, plus nectar for bees and butterflies. Have a different variety? Cultivars of the same species share the same basic care, so this guide still applies even if your exact color is not shown.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.