Gaura

Gaura lindheimeri

Engels: Bee Blossom

perennialOnagraceae

Gaura (Gaura lindheimeri) is a perennial from the Onagraceae family that grows up to 100cm tall. This plant thrives in full sun and requires low maintenance. Blooms in autumn and summer with white, pink flowers and attracts bees and butterflies.

Hoogte

60–100 cm

Breedte

40–60 cm

Zonligging

full sun

Waterbehoefte

low water needs

Grondsoort

sandy soil, loam

Onderhoud

low maintenance

Bloeitijd

autumn, summer

Bloemkleuren

white, pink

Ecologische waarde

Trekt bijen aan

🦋 Trekt vlinders aan

Verzorgingskalender

Taak	Jan	Feb	Mrt	Apr	Mei	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Okt	Nov	Dec
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Care tips

Planting

Gaura lindheimeri thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it ideal for sunny borders, gravel gardens, and Mediterranean-style plantings. Choose a spot that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight daily; shade will result in weak, floppy growth and fewer flowers. The plant tolerates sandy soil and loam equally well, but excellent drainage is essential—gaura will not survive in heavy clay or waterlogged ground. Prepare the planting area by digging over the soil to a spade's depth and incorporating coarse grit or horticultural sand if drainage is poor. There's no need to enrich the soil with compost or manure; gaura actually performs better in lean, free-draining conditions where it develops a stronger root system and more compact habit. Plant in April or May once the risk of hard frost has passed. Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball, set the plant at the same depth it was growing in its pot, and backfill with soil, firming gently. Space plants 50 cm apart to allow for their mature spread of 40–60 cm and ensure good air circulation, which helps prevent mildew. Water thoroughly immediately after planting to settle the roots, then water sparingly. Gaura is drought-tolerant once established and resents overly wet conditions. A light mulch of gravel or grit around the base helps keep the crown dry and suppresses weeds, but avoid organic mulches like bark, which retain too much moisture. Staking is rarely necessary if the plant is grown in full sun with good drainage.

Pruning

Gaura requires minimal pruning, but a single hard cut-back in March will keep plants tidy, encourage bushier growth, and prolong their lifespan. In late winter or early spring—ideally in March before new growth begins—cut back all the previous year's stems to within 5–10 cm of the ground. Use clean, sharp secateurs or hand shears for this task. This hard prune removes old, woody growth and stimulates fresh basal shoots that will carry the summer and autumn flowers. If you delay pruning until growth has started, you'll sacrifice some of the plant's energy, so aim to complete the job before mid-April. Don't be tempted to tidy up in autumn; the old stems provide some winter protection for the crown, and gaura can be borderline hardy in colder parts of zone 7, so leaving top growth intact until spring improves winter survival. During the growing season, deadheading is not strictly necessary—gaura produces such a profusion of small flowers on wiry stems that removing spent blooms individually is impractical. However, if the plant begins to look untidy or flowering slows in midsummer, you can shear back the flowered stems by about one-third. This encourages a fresh flush of blooms and prevents the plant from becoming too leggy or sprawling. In very mild winters, gaura may retain some semi-evergreen foliage. If this occurs, simply cut it back in March along with the old stems. Avoid autumn pruning, as this can stimulate soft new growth vulnerable to frost damage.

Maintenance

Gaura is a low-maintenance perennial once established, requiring little intervention beyond the annual March prune. Watering needs are minimal; the plant is drought-tolerant and actually prefers dry conditions. Water newly planted gaura regularly during the first growing season to help roots establish, then reduce watering significantly. In subsequent years, water only during prolonged dry spells in summer—overwatering encourages lank growth and increases the risk of root rot. Feeding is not necessary and can be counterproductive. Gaura grows naturally in poor, rocky soils and responds to rich feeding by producing excessive foliage at the expense of flowers. Avoid applying fertiliser; if your soil is very poor, a single light dressing of general-purpose granular feed in early spring is the absolute maximum, but most gardeners find it thrives without any feeding at all. Overwintering is straightforward in zones 7–9, though gaura can be slightly tender in the coldest winters. Leave the old stems standing until March to protect the crown, and apply a 5 cm layer of grit or gravel mulch around the base in late autumn to improve drainage and prevent winter wet, which is more damaging than cold. In zone 6 or exposed gardens, consider covering the crown with a cloche or fleece during severe frost. Gaura is generally pest-free, but powdery mildew can appear on foliage in late summer, especially in humid conditions or where air circulation is poor. This is largely cosmetic and rarely affects flowering. Avoid overhead watering and ensure adequate spacing. Aphids occasionally cluster on new shoots in spring; a strong jet of water or insecticidal soap will control them if necessary.