Description

Gaura (Gaura lindheimeri), also called “butterfly gaura,” displays slender wands of star-shaped white or pale pink flowers that flutter like butterflies on wispy stems. In Florida’s sunny gardens, plant in full sun with well-drained soil; it tolerates heat and thrives in leaner, sandy mixes. Water deeply but infrequently—allow the top inch of soil to dry between waterings—and deadhead spent blooms to encourage fresh flushes through fall. Its light, feathery texture makes gaura perfect as a backdrop in mixed borders or as a filler in containers alongside taller spikes like salvia or ornamental grasses. Pair with bright lantana or low-mounding alyssum for a playful, airy composition.