Oenothera gaura
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Gaura biennis
- Phonetic Spelling
- ee-no-THEE-ruh GAH-ra
- Description
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Biennial Gaura is a native biennial or short-lived perennial wildflower found in wooded areas, streambanks, disturbed areas, open fields, and roadsides. In NC it is found primarily in the mountains and lesser so in the Piedmont.
This plant is adaptable to various well-drained dry to moist soils and prefers full sun. It is best used in naturalized areas and pollinator/native gardens. It can be slightly weedy. Flower stems sway beautifully in the breeze and bloom June through October. They are a great pollinator magnet.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Oenothera
- Species:
- gaura
- Family:
- Onagraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Biennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Ontario, central and eastern U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- AL , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , MA , MD , MI , MN , MS , NC , NJ , NY , OH , PA , SC , TN , VA , WI , WV Canada: ON , QC
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts bees, moths, butterflies and songbirds.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is diamond-shaped and 4-sided with a large rib along each angle, cone-shaped at the tip, ΒΌ to 1/3 inch long, with fine surface hairs. July-November.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Flowers bloom June-October and are white fading to pinkish in color. Flowers are 1/2 inch wide with 4 petals arranged fan-like. The long stamens are arranged horizontally to the petals. They appear in open panicles on spikes up to 6 feet tall.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- First-year leaves are a dense flat rosette. Second-year they are opposite on the stem and stalkless, lance-elliptical shape, tip acute, base narrow, 3-7 inches long by .5- 1 inch wide. Undersides with short hairs, margins are entire or slightly dentate.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Green stems may be red-tinged with spreading white hairs. They can be angular or round.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy
