Gaura

Gaura lindheimeri, commonly known as bee blossom, is native to North America and is in the Onagraceae family. It can be found in Texas and Louisiana and as far south as central Mexico. The native gaura is a vigorous, clump-forming perennial with long, branching stems that have a sparse number of long, oval leaves. White flower racemes form at the ends of stems and flowers open a few at a time.

G. lindheimeri was rarely seen in commercial production except for the white-flowering 'Whirling Butterflies,' which reaches 42 inches tall and 36 inches wide. That changed in 1994 when breeder Baldassare Mineo and his company Siskiyou Rare Plant Nursery in Medford, Ore., introduced 'Siskiyou Pink.' This cultivar was found as a pink-flowering sport of a white-flowering G. lindheimeri seedling. 'Siskiyou Pink' has a more spreading habit and tends to grow as wide as it is tall, 36 to 42 inches.

Several commercial cultivars have been produced from 'Siskiyou Pink,' including 'Sunny Butterflies,' 'Crimson Butterflies' and 'Blushing Butterflies.' These three cultivars were bred by Howard Bentley of Plant Growers Australia in Victoria, Australia. All three are hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-10.

'Sunny Butterflies' is more compact than parent 'Siskiyou Pink' and much more compact than the other variegated gaura cultivar, 'Corries Gold,' which tends to grow 36-42 inches tall, but tends to grow wider than 'Sunny Butterflies.'

'Sunny Butterflies' produces abundant pink flowers (8- to 10-inch racemes) on sturdy upright stems. The 2- to 3-inch-by-1/2-inch-wide, gray-green leaves have a white edge. Plants 2 feet tall and wide and can be used in a perennial garden or separately as a container plant. 'Sunny Butterflies' flowers from early spring until frost, but produces more flowers in late spring.

'Crimson Butterflies' produces dark-crimson leaves and short, red stems that hold hot-pink flowers (2- to 4-inch racemes) just above the foliage. Plants reach 18 inches tall and 24 inches wide.

This cultivar tolerates high humidity and is adaptable to almost any soil type. It is resistant to drought, but like other xeriscape perennials, looks better when watered regularly. Flowering occurs from early spring to frost, but is most abundant during late spring.

'Blushing Butterflies' is more compact than parent 'Siskiyou Pink,' reaching 24 inches tall and wide. Plants have dark-green leaves and produce blush-pink flowers (6- to 8-inch racemes) that are held above the foliage. 'Blushing Butterflies' blooms from early spring to frost, with more flowers occurring in late spring.

Breeder Howard Bentley hadn't planned to commercially release 'Blushing Butterflies,' but growers and retailers who saw the cultivar convinced him to add it to the Butterflies series.

* * * *

Softwood to semi-hard cuttings can be rooted in spring through late summer. A well-drained growing medium with a pH of 6.5-6.8 or other rooting medium (i.e., Oasis cubes) can be used. A rooting hormone is recommended to achieve a higher percentage of rooting. The air temperature during rooting should range between no lower than 50F at night and 80F during the day. Summer propagation requires intermittent mist, i.e., 12 seconds every 12 minutes. Cuttings will root in four to six weeks. Rooted 2 1/4-inch liners and 2-inch plugs are also commercially available.

Rooted cuttings can be transplanted into liners or directly into 4-inch finished containers. After transplanting, a balanced fertilizer, i.e., 20-10-20, should be applied regularly. The nitrogen rate should not exceed 250 parts per million in the early spring. During growing on, the night temperature should not drop below 60F and the day temperature should not exceed 80F.

Once plants are transplanted into finished containers they can be lightly pruned two or three times before sale. Pruning causes advantageous bud development, which produces a fuller, balanced-looking finished plant. After transplanting, plants are ready for sale in eight to 10 weeks.

Gauras don't have any particular insect and disease problems, but look for aphids in stem tips.

Specifics

Name: Gaura lindheimeri, bee blossom.

Crop timing: Starting with unrooted cuttings, plants root in four to six weeks. Transplanting rooted liners into 1-gallon containers, plants are ready for sale in six to eight weeks.

Grower benefits: Quick crop that is easy to propagate and grow. No major insect or disease problems.

Selling points: Can be used in landscape plantings and in specimen containers. Plants flower from spring to frost with most flowering in late spring. Hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-10.

For more: Pride of Place Plants, 674 Cromarty Ave., Sidney, British Columbia V8L 5G6 Canada; (250) 656-7963; fax (250) 655-0306; e-mail rsorenson@pacificcoast.net; www.prideofplaceplants; www.icangarden.com/neweden