Do Gaura come back every year?
Gaura is a perennial that comes back year after year. The best time to overwinter or move it would be now in Autumn. For the best chances of overwintering gaura, cut it back in autumn and apply a thick mulch of straw to protect it from frost, or lift the whole plant and overwinter it in a pot in a cold greenhouse. You can also take semi-ripe cuttings in summer to insure against winter losses.Gaura is such a reliable plant for a pot we can’t possibly leave it out. Given sun, it flowers for a long period (frequently June to November) and even tolerates dry soil.To prepare Gaura lindheimeri for the winter months, prune the plants in late autumn. To prune your gauras, take a sharp pair of secateurs and cut them back to about 10 cm above the ground. Cover the remaining parts with foliage to protect the plants from the cold and frost.Gaura is generally not a heavy feeder, but applying a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring can promote healthy growth. Avoid excessive fertilization, as Gaura prefers lean soil. Throughout the growing season, monitor the plants for any signs of pests or diseases, such as aphids or powdery mildew.Gaura are fairy hardy, tolerating temperatures down to around -10C. In areas where temperatures may fall lower over winter, they can be protected with a thick layer of mulch around the crown of the plant.
Does gaura overwinter?
Yes, all the gaura we sell are herbaceous perennials, meaning they die down in winter and come back into growth in spring. Do you cut back gaura? This is best done in spring, though autumn is also fine (you will just miss out on the cool season foliage colour; see ‘Pruning and Deadheading’ section above). Cut back Gaura stems to around 5-10cm from the base of the plant in early spring. The old growth will help to protect the plant and root system from severe weather over winter. In areas with mild winters, you can cut back Gaura in autumn.Are gauras winter hardy? Unfortunately, Gaura lindheimeri is not fully hardy. Temperatures below -10 °C and too much moisture can cause irreversible damage to the root ball. To ensure your gaura survives the winter, cut it back to 10 cm above the ground in autumn and cover the top with plenty of brushwood and leaves.As a departure from so many of the flowering perennials that I love, mature gaura plants are not able to be divided (or moved easily) due to their taproot. Instead, speedy propagation is best achieved by cuttings, ideally from the shorter flowering stems that intersect the main ones.
Is Gaura low maintenance?
Gauras don’t need a lot of maintenance. Cut back and divide congested clumps in mid-spring, but don’t try moving or dividing more mature plants as they don’t respond well. Don’t worry if dark spots appear on the leaves as this is normal. In autumn, when temperatures dip, gaura foliage turns lovely shades of red. Gaura is such a reliable plant for a pot we can’t possibly leave it out. Given sun, it flowers for a long period (frequently June to November) and even tolerates dry soil.These long flowering perennial plants are fantastic in a container and will bring colour from late spring, all the way through to the early autumn. Another thing that makes Gaura plants ideal for a container, is they are very low maintenance.
How cold hardy is gaura?
Hardy all the way down to Zone 5, Gaura easily survive the cold of winter, but being so xeric, they may be taken out by too much rainfall if winter rain is abundant. Gaura is a perennial that comes back year after year. The best time to overwinter or move it would be now in Autumn.Though it grows best in full sun and reliably moist soil, gaura will also tolerate partial shade and drought conditions.Hardy all the way down to Zone 5, Gaura easily survive the cold of winter, but being so xeric, they may be taken out by too much rainfall if winter rain is abundant.Though it grows best in full sun and reliably moist soil, gaura will also tolerate partial shade and drought conditions.
Does gaura do well in full sun?
Gaura must be grown in full sun, in soil that drains rapidly. An overly rich soil will encourage stems to fall. The plant forms a strong taproot that allows it to withstand heat and drought once established. It is also tolerant of humidity and has no known insect or disease problems. Water regularly until established, then thoroughly but less frequently to encourage the taproot to grow deeply into the soil. Overwatering can lead to root rot. Gaura is drought tolerant once established. Water when the top 2 to 3 inches of soil is dry.Incorrect Watering Overwatering your White Gaura can lead to yellowing leaves, wilting, and squishy roots. Conversely, underwatering manifests as dry, crispy leaves and drooping stems.