Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Gaura pink
Pink Gaura is an airy perennial with long, arching wands of small pink flowers that sway in the slightest breeze. It blooms from spring into fall, with the heaviest show in spring and fall here. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds visit the flowers. It grows fast and fits a bed, a border or a patio pot.
Best for: beds and borders that need soft movement, planting under a desert tree, patio pots, and flowers for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
Small pink flowers open along long, arching wands that sway in any breeze. Plant it 2 to 3 feet apart in a border, or 12 to 18 inches apart for a soft drift in a bed.
It does well planted under desert trees, where it gets dappled shade. In the Valley, that afternoon shade helps it through the hottest months and keeps it blooming longer.
Gaura is a common pick for patio containers as well as flower beds. It stays about 2 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide, so it fits small spaces near the house.
Bloom slows in the heat of summer, and hard afternoon sun is tough on it here. Soggy soil can rot the roots, so plant it where water drains. The pink form can also put out some white flowers.
- Massed in a bed12-18 in apart
- Standard border2-3 ft apart
For the first two weeks, water a new plant every 1 to 2 days in summer, or every 3 to 4 days in cooler months. Then stretch the time between waterings. Once rooted, it needs little water. Soggy soil rots the roots.
In the hottest parts of the Valley it does best with some afternoon shade. Dappled shade under a desert tree suits it well.
Remove dead growth in late winter or early spring. In midsummer, cutting it back by a third to a half gives a bushier plant and new flowers.
Flea beetles can feed on the leaves, so check plants in the warm months. It reseeds where it gets water, so pull extra seedlings while they are small.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does gaura get?
It grows fast, reaching about 2 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide as an open, arching clump. Give it that much room when you plant.
How far apart should I plant gaura?
Plant it about 12 to 18 inches apart when massed in a bed, or 2 to 3 feet apart in a border. The Spacing tab shows each option.
When does gaura bloom in Phoenix?
It blooms from spring into fall. In the low desert the heaviest bloom comes in spring and again in fall. It slows down in the summer heat, so cut it back in midsummer for a fresh fall flush.
Does gaura need full sun in Phoenix?
It takes full sun in cooler areas, but in the low desert it does best with some afternoon shade. Plant it under a desert tree or on a side of the house that gets shade after midday.
How much water does gaura need?
Once it is rooted, it needs little water, so let the soil dry a bit between soaks. Soil that stays wet can rot the roots, so do not keep it soggy.
Does gaura need fertilizer?
Plants in the ground do not need fertilizer. Rich soil and extra feeding tend to give floppy stems and fewer flowers, so skip it and only feed plants in pots.
How do you prune gaura?
Clean out dead growth in late winter or early spring. In midsummer, after the first big bloom, cut it back by a third to a half to keep it bushy and bring on new flowers.
Why is my pink gaura putting out white flowers?
The pink form is not fully stable. It can put out some white flowers among the pink, and some plants turn back to white over time. Cut out the white stems if you want to keep it pink.
Does gaura attract hummingbirds and butterflies?
Yes. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds visit the flowers, and moths visit them too. Plant it in a sunny bed where you can watch them.
How cold hardy is gaura?
It is very cold hardy, rated to about -20°F by Arizona growers. Valley winters do not hurt it, so it needs no frost cover.
Can I move gaura once it is planted?
It is hard to move. Gaura grows a deep root, so an established plant does not transplant well. Pick its spot carefully and plant it where you want it to stay.
What problems does gaura have?
Flea beetles can feed on it, and soil that stays wet can rot the roots. Where water is plentiful it can reseed, so pull extra seedlings while they are small.
Gaura pink for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Pink Gaura is a fast growing perennial with long, arching flower wands that move in the breeze. In the low desert it blooms most in spring and fall, and it draws bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Below is what to expect in a Valley yard, from size and spacing to sun, water and pruning.
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How big does gaura get in Phoenix?
Plan on about 2 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. It grows fast and forms an open clump of arching flower wands.
When does gaura bloom in the low desert?
Gaura blooms from spring into fall. Here the heaviest flowering comes in spring and again in fall. Bloom slows down in the summer heat.
Does gaura need shade in Phoenix?
It takes full sun in cooler areas. In the low desert it does best with some afternoon shade. Dappled shade under a desert tree suits it well.
How often do you water gaura?
Gaura likes regular, moderate water, but the soil must drain well. Soil that stays wet can rot the roots. It does not need fertilizer in the ground.
How do you prune gaura?
Clean out dead growth in late winter or early spring. In midsummer, cut it back by a third to a half. That keeps it bushy and brings on a new round of flowers.
Is gaura good for hummingbirds and butterflies?
Yes. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds all visit the flowers, and moths visit them too.
Gaura lindheimeri or Oenothera lindheimeri?
They are the same plant. Gaura has been moved into the evening primrose group, so you will also see it sold as Oenothera lindheimeri. Common names include bee blossom and whirling butterflies.
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