Plant Care Guides / Outdoor & Coastal / Perennials and bulbs
Exotic | Easy Care | Perennials and bulbs
Gaura is a graceful, airy perennial that produces masses of small, butterfly-like flowers on tall, slender, wiry stems that wave and dance in the slightest breeze.
The Belezza range comes in dark pink, white and red, and the compact forms stay neater than the species. It flowers over a very long season, from late spring right through to late autumn, and it has an effortless, natural quality that suits informal, cottage-style and mixed plantings. It handles heat, wind and moderate drought well, and its deep taproot makes it tough once established. It is one of those plants that looks best when you plant it and leave it alone.
60 cm to 1 m tall, about 50 cm wide. Compact forms stay lower.
Fast. It reaches full size within one growing season.
Mixed border, cottage garden, mass planting, alongside grasses, container. Its airy, see-through quality means it works well planted in front of bolder foliage.
Full sun. It gets leggy and floppy in shade.
Well-drained soil. It handles sandy and poor conditions. It does not enjoy heavy, wet soil. Its deep taproot means it dislikes being transplanted once established.
Moderate while establishing. Once settled, it is drought-tolerant. Overwatering makes it soft and floppy.
A light feed in spring is enough. Too much fertiliser produces lush, soft growth at the expense of flowers.
Cut the whole plant back to about 15 cm in late winter. It resprouts vigorously and flowers on the new growth. Deadheading during the season extends the display, though it also self-deadheads reasonably well.
Ask about availability. WhatsApp us to check what is currently in stock, or visit the nursery and we will help you choose the right plant for your spot.
