whirling butterflies - Gardening Tips
Today I turn my attention to a perennial bearing the scientific name Oenothera lindheimeri, commonly known as “whirling butterflies”, among other names. Its previous genus was actually Guara, but that ... You can plant masses in a wildflower garden as these “whirling butterflies” dance in the breeze.
Understanding the Context
Gaura is best planted in the spring or fall. However, only plant perennial varieties in the fall since annuals will die with frosty weather. Tough but delicate and incredibly pretty, Gaura 'Whirling Butterflies' features tall, airy-looking flowers dancing and dangling along thin stems. It adds a unique texture in the garden with its 4-petaled, white butterfly-like flowers borne at the top of the airy spikes.
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Key Insights
Bright white flowers with red sepals make Whirling Butterflies the perfect whimsical specimen for your wildflower garden. More compact than the straight species, very free flowering, and won't self-seed. The airy texture provides a stunning accent in a mixed perennial border. 'Whirling Butterflies' features arching red stems, pink flower buds and 4-petaled snow white flowers (1" diameter) which appear in long, terminal, wand-like panicles above the foliage over a very long late spring to autumn bloom period. Gaura, Oenothera lindheimeri, is an herbaceous perennial species that grows 15 to 60 inches tall and spreads up to 36 inches in dense, basal clumps.
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Also known as beeblossom, butterfly flower, wand flower, and whirling butterflies, the long, wiry flower stems continue to elongate as they grow. If you’re searching for a flower that flutters like a butterfly and thrives like a champ, look no further than gaura! Also called “whirling butterflies” for its airy blooms that dance in the breeze, gaura is a carefree stunner that adds grace to any garden bed, container, or wildflower patch. Gaura lindheimeri 'Whirling Butterflies' is a clump-forming perennial native to the American South. It has an extremely long flowering season with sparse blooms that are said to resemble butterflies; hence, the name. Gaura, also known as Whirling Butterflies, has an abundance of delicate pink or white flowers which hover on long stems above the foliage like little butterflies, hence the common name.
This attribute has earned it the common name “Whirling Butterflies.” Moreover, the Gaura plant showcases an extended blooming period, often commencing in late spring and persisting until fall, ensuring a continuous display of beautiful flowers.