Leaf
Emmanuel Stratmains, Tela Botanica · CC BY-SA 2.0
Gaura
Oenothera lindheimeri (Engelm. & A.Gray) W.L.Wagner & Hoch
Also known as: White gaura, Whirling butterflies
Family: Onagraceae
60 cm to 1.20 m tall
Grown in sunny borders and edgings, free-draining soils
Flowering: June – October
Full sun
Fairly hardy, to about -15°C, prefers well-drained soil in winter
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
The long, supple stems of gaura sway at the slightest breath of wind, giving the impression of a cloud of small white butterflies fluttering above the border — hence its nickname of butterfly flower.
🍃 Leaves
Lanceolate, narrow, slightly hairy, often marked with red
🌸 Flowers
Small, white to pinkish, with 4 petals and protruding stamens, star-shaped, borne on long, fine, supple stems, moving in the slightest wind.
🍎 Fruits
Small dry capsule
🪵 Bark
Perennial rootstock woody at the base, light herbaceous stems
🗺️ Distribution
Native to the southern United States and Mexico; widely grown in France as a border perennial
🐝 Value for pollinators
Long, honey-rich flowering, much visited by bees and butterflies all summer
✂️ Horticultural uses
Very free-flowering, airy border perennial, its stems dancing in the wind earn it the nickname of butterfly flower
⚠️ Possible toxicity
No known toxicity
🌿 Other Onagraceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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