Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Gaura White
White Gaura is the classic white form of gaura, a light, airy perennial that sends up tall wands of small white flowers. The flowers open white and fade to soft pink as they age, and in a breeze they flutter like a cloud of small butterflies. In the low desert it blooms most in spring and again in fall, with bees, butterflies and hummingbirds visiting. It grows fast and softens a bed, a border, the ground under a desert tree or a patio pot.
Best for: soft white color in beds and borders, planting under desert trees, patio containers, and bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
Tall, thin flower stalks carry small white flowers that age to pink, so the plant shows both colors at once. Set plants 2 to 3 feet apart along a border to get a loose, moving line of white.
In the Valley it does best with some shade after midday, and dappled shade under a desert tree suits it well. The shade helps it through the hottest months of the year.
It grows well in a patio pot, where you can watch the flowers move in the breeze up close. Potted plants are the only ones that need feeding.
Bloom slows in the summer heat, and plants struggle in full afternoon sun here. Soil that stays wet can rot the roots, and where water is plentiful it can drop seedlings.
- Drift in a flower bed12-18 in apart
- Border planting2-3 ft apart
Water a new plant every 2 to 4 days for the first few weeks, then water less often. Once rooted it needs low to moderate water. Do not keep the soil soggy.
In the hottest parts of the Valley, give it some shade in the afternoon. Dappled shade under a desert tree suits it well.
Remove dead stems in late winter or early spring. In midsummer, cut it back by a third to a half for a bushier plant and a fresh fall bloom.
Check for flea beetles on the leaves in the warm months. Pull extra seedlings while they are small if you do not want more plants.
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 white gaura get?
Plan on about 2 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. It grows fast into an open clump of arching flower stalks, so give it that space at planting.
Why do the white gaura flowers turn pink?
That is how the flowers age. Each one opens white and fades to pink before it drops, so a plant in bloom shows white and pink together.
What is the difference between white gaura and pink gaura?
They are the same species. White is the plant's natural flower color, while pink gaura is a selected form that is not fully stable and can throw white flowers.
When does gaura bloom in the Valley?
It blooms from spring into fall, with the heaviest show in spring and again in fall. Flowering slows in summer heat, so a midsummer cutback sets it up for fall.
Does white gaura need full sun?
In cooler areas it takes full sun, 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 is shaded after midday.
How far apart should I plant gaura?
Plant about 12 to 18 inches apart for a full drift in a bed, or 2 to 3 feet apart in a border. The Spacing tab shows both options.
How often should I water white gaura?
Water a new plant every few days for the first few weeks, then stretch the time between waterings. Once rooted it needs low to moderate water, and the soil should dry a bit between soaks.
When do you cut back gaura?
Clear out dead growth in late winter or early spring. In midsummer, cut the plant back by about a third to a half to keep it bushy and bring on a new round of flowers.
Does gaura need fertilizer?
Plants in the ground do not need it. Rich soil and extra feeding give floppy stems and fewer flowers, so only feed gaura growing in pots.
Do hummingbirds and butterflies visit gaura?
Yes. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds visit the flowers. Moths visit the flowers too.
Can I move gaura after planting?
It does not transplant well. Gaura grows a deep root, so choose the spot carefully the first time.
What problems does white gaura have?
Flea beetles can chew the leaves, and soil that stays wet can rot the roots. It can also reseed where it gets regular water, so pull the extra seedlings while they are small.
Gaura White for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
White Gaura is the white flowered form of Gaura lindheimeri, also called whirling butterflies. Its long wands of white flowers fade to pink and move with every breeze, with the best bloom in spring and fall here. Below is what to expect in a Valley yard: size, spacing, shade, water, pruning and how it compares to pink gaura.
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White gaura in Phoenix yards
White gaura sends up long, thin wands of small white flowers that move in the slightest breeze. It blooms most in spring and fall in the low desert and draws bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
Why do white gaura flowers turn pink?
Each flower opens white and fades to pink as it ages, then drops. A plant in bloom shows both colors at the same time.
White gaura vs pink gaura
Both are Gaura lindheimeri, the same species. White is the plant's natural color, while pink forms are selections that can throw white flowers over time.
How far apart do you plant gaura?
Plant 12 to 18 inches apart for a drift in a bed, or 2 to 3 feet apart in a border. It grows to about 1 to 2 feet wide.
Does gaura need shade in Phoenix?
It takes full sun in cooler areas, but in the low desert it does best with some afternoon shade. Dappled shade under a desert tree suits it well.
How do you prune white gaura?
Clear out dead stems in late winter or early spring. In midsummer, cut it back by a third to a half to keep it bushy and bring on fall flowers.
Is gaura the same as whirling butterflies?
Yes. Whirling butterflies and bee blossom are common names for Gaura lindheimeri, which is also sold as Oenothera lindheimeri. The white flowers on thin stems look like small butterflies in the wind.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.