Provide full to part sun (4+hrs/day).

This native was collected from the Flint Hills region of the Kansas prairie. Soil type is clay to loamy clay. This plant should do well in similar soil and can tolerate rocky areas as well.

Native to hardiness zone 6b (-5 to 0 °F).

Gaura can tolerate droughty conditions once established. During the plant’s first 1-2 years, water deeply when the top 2-4 inches of soil is dry..

Gaura does not need extensive nutrient support. If you know that your soil is poor, consider adding a small amount of compost at planting, working it evenly into the surrounding top 6-8” of soil.

If you know that your soil has acidic leanings, consider amending with lime. (Most Kansas soils don’t have this issue.)

As a perennial, gaura is best established after soil has warmed in May/June or 4-6 weeks before our first frost in the fall.

Summer to Late Summer (June-October)

Gaura is perennial and will readily spread by seed. This giant also reaches 1-6’ tall! Thinning may be required as it colonizes.

Cattle aren’t the only animal that love to nibble on gaura. I’ve also spotted many a caterpillar waving around on tall gaura plants, giving it its common name, butterfly weed.