Gaura

Family: Onagraceae

Native to North America, there are about 20 species in this genus of herbaceous perennials. They look very pretty in informal or wild gardens, blooming from spring to fall. For this reason, they are becoming more popular, especially where low maintenance is a priority.

Species

G. lindiheimeri, the most commonly cultivated species, is a bushy plant which grows to 1 m (3 ft). It has loosely branched, fine stems, lance-shaped, mid-green leaves and small, delicate, white flowers, with pink calyx tubes, which give the plant a misty pink appearance. There is a pink-flowered form now available. This is known as 'Siskiyou Pink'.

Cultivation

Easy to grow, these plants prefer a light, sandy soil. Propagate from seed in early spring or by division of the clumps after the foliage has died down in winter. They are drought-tolerant once established, but prefer an occasional deep watering in summer.

Climate

Zone 8.