gaura lindheimeri 'Siskiyou Pink'

Common Name: gaura  

Type: Herbaceous perennial

Family: Onagraceae

Zone: 5 to 8

Height: 2.50 to 3.00 feet

Spread: 2.50 to 3.00 feet

Bloom Time: May to August

Bloom Description: Rose pink

Sun: Full sun

Water: Medium

Maintenance: Medium

Suggested Use: Naturalize

Flower: Showy

Garden locations

Culture

Best grown in sandy, loamy, well-drained soils in full sun. Good drainage is essential. A taprooted plant which tolerates heat, humidity and some drought. Remove spent flower spikes to prolong bloom period. Thin flower stems tend to become leggy and flop, particularly when grown in rich soils, and plants can benefit from close planting or support from adjacent perennials. Plants (particularly those which typically grow tall) may be cut back in late spring by 1/2 to control size. May self-seed if spent flower stems are left in place in the fall.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Gaura lindheimeri, commonly called gaura, is a herbaceous clump-forming perennial that is native to Texas and Louisiana. It grows to as much as 5' tall on stems clad with spoon-shaped to lanceolate leaves (to 3" long). Pinkish buds along wiry, erect, wand-like stems open to white flowers which slowly fade to pink. Flowers appear in long, open, terminal panicles and open only a few at a time. Narrow, lance-shaped, stemless leaves (1-3" long) are occasionally spotted with maroon.

The genus name Gaura comes from the Greek gauros meaning "superb" in reference to the beautiful flowers.

Specific epithet honors Ferdinand Jacob Lindheimer (1801-1879), Texas plant collector.

'Siskiyou Pink' typically grows 2.5-3' tall on rigid, wiry stems. Features 4-petaled, butterfly-like flowers which emerge rose pink from deep maroon buds. Flowers appear in open panicles, blooming several at a time over a long spring to autumn bloom time. Narrow, lance-shaped, stalkless leaves (to 3" long) are mottled with maroon. Introduction of the Siskiyou Rare Plant Nursery in Medford, Oregon.

Gaura lindheimeri 'Siskiyou Pink' - Plant Finder (missouribotanicalgarden.org)