When to Plant Gaura: Spring Planting, Seed Timing and a Permanent Spot for Whirling Butterflies

Gaura, also sold as whirling butterflies, bee blossom or wand flower, is Oenothera lindheimeri, a perennial in the evening primrose family. Wisconsin and NC State explain that it was moved from the genus Gaura to Oenothera in the early 2000s, but many nurseries still label it gaura. It is native to southeastern Texas, Louisiana and Mexico (Wisconsin), where it grows on prairies, pinelands and pond edges (Wildflower Center). The name honors Ferdinand Lindheimer, often called the father of Texas botany (Wildflower Center). Its white flowers, fading to pink, open a few at a time on long wiry stems from early summer until hard frost (Wisconsin).

When to plant gaura

Use our planting calendar to find your last spring frost. In a cold-winter garden where you plan to grow gaura as an annual, a spring planting gives the longest flowering season, since it blooms until hard frost (Wisconsin).

How to plant gaura

UC Master Gardeners say heavy clay and poor drainage stop a healthy taproot from forming, and that mature plants do not move well. Our reading is to treat the first planting spot as permanent and, in clay, to plant on a slight rise or in a raised bed.

Watering, feeding and cutting back

• Water until established, then deeply but less often; Garden Design waters when the top 2 to 3 inches of soil are dry. Wisconsin says established plants tolerate drought, though some moisture gives better flowering.
• Skip most fertilizer. UC Master Gardeners say gaura does not appreciate fertilizer or overwatering.
• Shear to keep it compact. Wisconsin cuts plants back by up to half in late spring to keep them smaller.
• Cut back for a fall flush. The Wildflower Center says plants cut back in midsummer regrow and bloom again in fall; Wisconsin says cutting all the spikes at once costs 2 to 3 weeks of flowers.
• Deadhead some stems to tidy the plant, encourage more blooms and reduce self-seeding (Wisconsin, NC State).
• Give it neighbors to lean on. NC State says the wiry stems can flop and suggests planting other perennials nearby for support.

Gaura in containers

NC State lists gaura as a container plant, and Wisconsin suggests the smaller cultivars for upright form in pots. UC Master Gardeners suggest a deep container, which suits the taproot. Garden Design uses an all-purpose potting mix with perlite or vermiculite added for drainage. Our reading is to choose a compact cultivar, use a deep pot with drainage holes and let the mix dry between waterings.

Fall and winter

• Cut the flower spikes back in fall and remove the dead foliage in spring (Wisconsin, NC State).
• Be patient in spring. Wisconsin says new growth can be slow to emerge, so don't dig up a plant that looks dead in early spring.
• Drainage decides survival. Garden Design says sharp drainage is essential for overwintering, and NC State and Wisconsin both name root rot in poorly drained soil.
• Plan replacements. UC Master Gardeners say it is not long-lived; Wisconsin says the species self-sows readily and may naturalize, so a few seedlings can replace old plants.

Pests and problems

Wisconsin says gaura has few pest problems, with occasional leaf spots, rust and mildew, and root rot in heavy, poorly drained soil. NC State adds powdery mildew, aphids, whiteflies and flea beetles. Deer reports vary: Wisconsin says it is not favored by deer, NC State tags it deer resistant, the Wildflower Center rates deer resistance as moderate, and UC Master Gardeners say deer and rabbits avoid it. Wisconsin also notes that gaura is a host plant for white-lined sphinx moth caterpillars, so a few chewed leaves can be a good sign.

Gaura around the vegetable garden

Wisconsin says long-tongued bees and bumblebees visit the flowers readily, along with butterflies, and NC State adds hummingbirds. Because gaura flowers from early summer to hard frost (Wisconsin), a few plants at the sunny end of a bed keep pollinators coming through the whole vegetable season (our reading). Wisconsin pairs it with black-eyed Susans, purple coneflowers, asters and Russian sage, and UC Master Gardeners suggest cosmos and dahlias. See also flowers that attract beneficial insects.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to plant gaura?

In spring, once all danger of frost has passed (Garden Design); UC Master Gardeners call early spring best. In mild-winter areas perennial kinds can also go in during fall (Garden Design).

Can I grow gaura from seed?

Yes. Wisconsin sows the species in spring or fall and says plants started in early spring can bloom the first year. Many named cultivars, including the sterile Ballerina series, are grown from cuttings instead.

Can I move a gaura plant?

It is best not to. Gaura grows a deep taproot, and Garden Design and UC Master Gardeners say established plants transplant poorly, so choose a permanent spot.

Why is my gaura floppy?

Usually too much shade, rich soil or fertilizer (Wisconsin, NC State). Shear by up to half in late spring to keep it compact (Wisconsin), and plant neighbors it can lean on (NC State).

Is gaura a perennial?

Yes, hardy to about Zone 5 (Wisconsin, NC State), but often short-lived, and in cold climates it is often grown as an annual (Wisconsin).

Why did my gaura die over winter?

Usually wet soil. Garden Design says sharp drainage is essential for overwintering, and NC State links poor drainage to root rot. New growth can also be slow in spring (Wisconsin), so wait before giving up on it.