Description
Gaura –
There are about 20 species of annuals, biennials, perennials and subshrubs, in this genus. They occur in moist places and prairies in North America. They have alternate, simple, rosetted, lance shaped to elliptic or spoon shaped, pinnatifid, mainly basal leaves, and airy racemes or panicles of short-lived, flat, irregularly star shaped, pink or white flowers, usually 4 petalled. They are graceful plants in a border.
Grow in light, fertile, moist but well drained soil in full sun, but drought and partial shade is tolerated. Cut to ground after flowering.
Prone to rust, Cercospora leaf spots, Septoria leaf spots, downy mildew and powdery mildew.
G. lindheimeri – White Gaura – This bushy, clump forming perennial from Texas, Louisiana and Mexico grows 5′ feet tall and 3′ feet wide. From slender stems it carries spoon shaped to lance shaped, toothed leaves, 1-3″ long. From late spring to early autumn it bears loose panicles, 8-24″ long, of pinkish white buds, opening at dawn to white flowers, 1″ across, fading to pink.
Zones 6-9
