Gaura lindheimeri
Gaura lindheimeri
Gaura or Lindheimer’s beeblossom
- Position: full sun
- Soil: well-drained soil
- Flowering period: June to October
- Height: 0,6-1m
- Foliage: deciduous
- Hardiness: needs winter protection
Gaura lindheimeri is a bushy perennial with a very long flowering season, producing lovely, star-shaped flowers on long, slender stems from June to October. Ideal for edging paths. Gaura lindheimeri is also easy to grow in a pot.
It performs best when grown in a sunny spot in well-drained soil.
Varieties
Gaura lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterflies’
Gaura lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterflies’. Masses of graceful, pinkish-white, star-shaped flowers with grey-green leaves. It will grow to 0,8-1m tall.
Gaura lindheimeri ‘White Dove’
Gaura lindheimeri ‘White Dove’ is smaller and pure white flowers whereas Gaura lindheimeri ‘Siskiyou Pink’ is a deep pink form with greenish-purple leaves. This variety will grow to around 1-1,5m tall.
Pruning
Pruning Gaura lindheimeri (Lindheimer’s beeblossom). Leave all the top growth on over winter. It will provide a bit of winter protection.
Cut the old and dead stems back to ground level in spring when all danger of frost has passed.
Remove the spent flower stems throughout the growing season to stimulate more flowers.
Overwinter
Gaura lindheimeri is not fully hardy and doesn’t like wet conditions during the winter. How should you protect the plant over the winter in the ground.
In areas prone to frost, apply a thick layer of dry winter mulch around the base of the plant to protect the roots.
Alternatively: Dig the plant up and pot it up. Keep the plant sheltered from frost and winter wet.
Plant combination
Gaura lindheimeri goes well with Verbena bonariensis, Echinacea, Salvia x jamensis and ornamental grasses, especially Stipa tenuissima.
Verbena bonariensis
