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Biennial Gaura Oenothera gaura

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Gaura biennis
Phonetic Spelling
ee-no-THEE-ruh GAH-ra
Description

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:
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#NC native#pollinator plant#native wildflower#naturalized area#short lifespan#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#bird friendly#food source hard mast fruit#butterfly friendly#Piedmont Mountains FACU#Coastal FACU#bee friendly#Audubon#wildflower#moth friendly#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#NC native#pollinator plant#native wildflower#naturalized area#short lifespan#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#bird friendly#food source hard mast fruit#butterfly friendly#Piedmont Mountains FACU#Coastal FACU#bee friendly#Audubon#wildflower#moth friendly#woodland
  • 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
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Multi-stemmed
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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