Wand Flower

Gaura lindheimeri

A vigorous, arching perennial that vigorously reaches up to 5 x 4 feet, that is native to the southern U.S. from eastern Texas to Louisiana. Many of the cultivars look great in plantings among rocks and blue flowering plants.
The toothed, narrow, lance-shaped leaves, up to 4 x 0.5 inches in size, are deep green.
The white to pink flowers, up to 1.2 inches across, are borne from late spring until mid-fall. It often blooms the first year from seed.
The flowers attract butterflies.
Hardy from zones 5 to 9 in full sun though it does tolerate partial shade as well.
Some protection in the form of wind protection and a light ( ex. pine boughs ) is recommended in zone 5 and 6. It is very heat, humidity and poor soil tolerant however requires good drainage. Hard clay kills however the Wand Flower does extremely well with sandy seashore conditions! Due to its deep taproot this plant can survive severe drought. Very drought tolerant and also deer / rabbit resistant.
Plants should be trimmed lightly after the first big push of blooms is over. Othewise they can be cut back at that time to 8 to 12 inches in height for a denser, more compact plant.
Propagation is from seed and new plants will sometimes randomly appear in the garden and bloom the same year. Plants can also be grown from basal cuttings during fall. Plant during early to mid spring only north of zone 7 to ensure proper establishment before winter.

* photo taken on 4th of July 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photo taken on Sep 14 2013 in Columbia, MD

'Belliza Dark Pink'
Fast growing, very strong branching, very dense and upright, reaching up to 1.5 x 2 feet. It is great for containers, edging and as a bedding plant.
The foliage is deep red, turning to rich dark green.
The leaves are borne on dark stems.
The flowers are pink in bud, opening to deep pink. They are borne on short stems over a very long season lasting early summer into autumn.

* photo taken on June 12 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Sep 3 2022 in Elkridge, MD

'Belliza White'
Fast growing, very strong branching, very dense and upright, reaching up to 1.5 x 2 feet. It is great for containers, edging and as a bedding plant.
The foliage is rich mid-green.
The white flowers are borne on short stems over a very long season lasting early summer into autumn.

* photo taken on June 20 2013 in Columbia, MD

'Blushing Butterflies'
Compact and upright, reaching up to 2 x 2 or rarely 3 x 2 feet. Soft blush pink flowers are borne from late spring to late fall.

* photo taken on June 18 2013 in Columbia, MD

'Cloud of Butterflies'
A High Country Garden introduction, originating in the wild in northern New Mexico, it reaches up to 2.5 x 2.5 feet, with abundant pure white flowers borne all summer long.
Hardy zones 6 to 9

'Corrie's Gold'
Reaching up to 4 x 3 feet with mid-green foliage that is boldly edged golden-yellow.
The flowers are white with some light pink blushing. The flowers appear late spring into mid-autumn.
Can only be reproduced from division or cuttings.
Hardy zones 6 to 9

'Crimson Butterflies'
A dwarf reaching up to 1.5 x 3 feet with short red stems and deep crimson-red foliage. The leaves average 2.1 x 0.5 inches in size.
The bold hot pink flowers, up to 1 x 1.5 inches in size, are just above the foliage on a plant that is not scraggly unlike many Gaura's.

* photos taken on May 14 2012 in Columbia, MD

* patent photo

'Dauphin'
Rigidly upright, sometimes reaching as much as 7 x 5 feet with white, later deepening to pink.

'Gaudi Red'
Compact and very densely branched, reaching up to 16 x 18 inches in size. It is great for containers, edging and as a bedding plant.
The deep green foliage is borne on dark red stems.
The intense deep rosy-red flowers are borne on short spikes early summer until mid autumn.

* photos taken on June 10 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 23 2014 in Columbia, MD

'Gaudi Rose'
Compact and very densely branched, reaching up to 16 x 18 inches in size. It is great for containers, edging and as a bedding plant.
The deep green foliage is borne on dark red stems.
The intense rosy-pink flowers are borne on short spikes early summer until mid autumn.

* photo taken on June 12 2013 in Columbia, MD

'Geyser Pink'
Moderate growing and compact in habit, reaching a maximum size of 32 x 44 inches. The abundant, large, pink flowers are borne late spring until autumn frosts. It is great in containers.

* photos taken by Milan Havlis ( havlis.cz )

'Graceful Pink'
Compact in habit, reaching up to 1.5 x 1.5 feet.

* photo taken on June 7 2024 in Elkridge, MD

* photo taken on June 17 2024 in Elkridge, MD

'Karalee Petite Pink'
Moderate growing, compact and upright to arching in habit, reaching up to 14 x 9 inches in 7 weeks, eventually up to 2 x 2 feet.
The oblanceolate leaves are up to 3.2 x 0.4 inches in size. The foliage is deep green to burgundy-red.
The deep pink flowers, up to 0.7 x 1.2 inches in size, appear all summer long.

* photos taken on June 4 2012 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on June 10 2013 in Columbia, MD

* patent photo

'Passionate Blush'
Dense, upright habit to 2.2 x 3.3 feet in the first year, eventually to 3 x 3.3 feet.
The foliage is deep purplish-red. The oblanceolate leaves are up to 2.8 x 0.4 inches in size.
The abundant, neon-pink flowers, up to 0.8 x 0.9 inches in size, appear from mid-summer to the first frost in autumn.

* patent photo

'Passionate Rainbow'
Compact and dense, upright in habit, reaching up to 10 x 10 inches in 6 months and an eventual maximum size of 2 x 2 feet.
The foliage is deep red at first, turning green and edged in white. The oblanceolate leaves are up to 1.6 x 0.2 inches in size. The leaves are borne on red stems.
The mid-pink flowers, up to 0.8 x 1.2 inches in size, are borne atop short stems early summer into autumn.
Less hardy than species, often not surviving the winter north of zone 7.

* photos taken on May 21 2012 in Columbia, MD

'Pink Cloud'
Reaches up to 4 feet in height, though shorter and denser if pinched a few times during late spring.
It bears abundant, deep pink flowers all summer long.

* photos taken on June 4 2012 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on June 10 2013 in Columbia, MD


'Pink Fountain'
Dense and upright in habit, with very strong, sturdy stems. It can reach up to 2.2 x 2.2 feet in 1 year and an eventual maximum size of 3 x 3 feet.
The foliage is deep red at first, turning to deep green. The oblanceolate leaves average 1.7 x 0.6 inches in size.
The very abundant pink flowers, up to 1.2 x 1.2 inches in size, appear early summer into early autumn.

* photo taken on June 18 2013 in Columbia, MD

* patent photo

'Pink Picotee'
Compact and upright in habit, reaching up to 3 x 2.9 feet.
The foliage is reddish turning to deep green. The lance-shaped leaves are up to 2.6 x 1 inches in size.
The pink flowers, up to 0.7 x 0.7 inches in size, are borne late spring into early autumn.

'Silver Fountain'
Dense and upright in habit, with very strong, sturdy stems. It can reach up to 1 x 1 foot in 1 year with a maximum eventual size of 2 x 2 feet.
The mid-green foliage is edged in creamy-white. The oblanceolate leaves are up to 2 x 0.3 inches in size.
The very abundant flowers, up to 1.5 inches wide, are pale pink in bud, opening to pure white. The flowers appear early summer into early autumn.

* patent photo

'Siskiyou Pink'
Fast growing, reaching up to 4 or rarely 5 x 3.7 feet with reddish-green foliage that contrasts with intense deep pink ( deep red in bud ) flowers from late spring right through the summer.

'Snow Fountain'
Dense and upright in habit, with very strong, sturdy stems. It can reach a maximum size of 2.7 x 1 feet during the first year, 2.7 x 2 feet at maturity.
The foliage is mid-green. The oblanceolate leaves are up to 2 x 0.3 inches in size.
The very abundant flowers, up to 1.6 x 1.5 inches in size, are blush-pink in bud, opening to pure white. The flowers are borne early summer into early autumn.

* photo taken on June 12 2013 in Columbia, MD

* patent photo

'So White'
A tidy dwarf grower reaching up to 3 x 3 feet with green foliage and abundant pure bright white flowers all summer long. Foliage is clean fresh green and does not get any spotting which often occurs on many of the other cultivars.
It is among the longest and prolific blooming of all perennials.

* photo of unknown internet source

* photo taken on June 10 2013 in Columbia, MD

'Summer Breeze'
Longer lived and very vigorous in habit, reaching up to 4.5 x 5.3 feet with reports of even 6 feet in height.
The luxuriant mid green foliage turns reddish towards fall.
The pink flowerbuds, open to pure white flowers from early summer until autumn frosts.
Hardier than species, north to zone 5a.

* photos taken by Milan Havlis ( havlis.cz )

'Sunny Butterflies'
A compact grower to 2.5 x 2 feet with foliage that is gray-green and variegated with a white edge.

'Trader Joe's'
A High Country Gardens introduction originating in New Mexico, that forms a very long-lived perennial, reaching up to 2.5 x 3 feet.
The large, white flowers are borne late spring through autumn.

'Whirling Butterflies'
Vigorous in habit, reaching a maximum size of 5 x 4 ( rarely over 3 ) feet; similar to species but flowers very abundantly with white flowers and does not produce any seed. This plant is highly recommended for softening a hot sunny, dark brick or stone wall.
Can only be reproduced from division or cuttings.

* photo taken on May 16 2011 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 7 2012 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 10 2024 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD