'Whirling Butterflies' Beeblossom (Gaura)
Perennial
- Airy white blooms attract pollinators from late spring to fall.
- White flowers sit atop reddish stems & provide contrast.
- A whimsical addition to any wildflower or cottage garden.
- Native, drought-tolerant, deer & rabbit-resistant.
- Zones 5 - 9, sun, 3’ tall x 2, wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Native to North America, Gaura, also known as beeblossom, is a durable perennial perfect for your pollinator garden, thriving in various soil, sun, and water conditions. While deer and rabbits tend to avoid this plant, pollinators flock to it! Plant them in full sun and be rewarded with continuous blooms for months. Take cuttings and bring some inside for added texture to cut flower arrangements.
Details
Common name: Beeblossom
Zone: 5 - 9
Sun exposure: Sun (> 6 hours sun)
Height x width: Up to 3’ tall and 2’ wide at maturity.
Flower color: White
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Summer - fall
Bloom time: Summer, fall
Features: Native, heat tolerant, dry soils, drought tolerant, deer-resistant, low maintenance, cut flower, pollinator-friendly, rabbit -resistant
Uses: Border, cottage gardening, massing, naturalizing, pollinator specimen, wildflower
How to Grow
Light: Sun (> 6 hours direct sunlight)
Water: Low to average. Water regularly the first season to encourage good root growth.
Spacing: 12-15 Inches
Fertilizing: Seldom needs fertilizing. If needed, you can feed lightly with a slow-release fertilizer before new growth begins in spring. Over-fertilizing may cause the plant to flop over due to too much growth.
Winterizing: Cut foliage back in the winter and apply a thin layer of mulch to insulate the roots.
Maintenance & pruning: Deadheading (snipping off the spent blooms) is unnecessary but will encourage new flowering stems to emerge.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.