Lakeshore Garden Centres Plant Finder

Other Names:  Butterfly Gaura, Wand Flower

Description:

This charming variety produces delicate white flowers that are edged in bright pink, over yellow variegated foliage; a compact plant that is great for borders and containers; attractive to butterflies; tolerant of heat, drought and humidity

Ornamental Features

Freefolk Rosy Gaura features dainty spikes of white star-shaped flowers with pink edges rising above the foliage from early summer to early fall, which emerge from distinctive coral-pink flower buds. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its attractive narrow leaves emerge burgundy in spring, turning green in colour with distinctive yellow edges throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Freefolk Rosy Gaura is an open herbaceous annual with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Freefolk Rosy Gaura is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Freefolk Rosy Gaura will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity extending to 24 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 24 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 18 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. Although it's not a true annual, this fast-growing plant can be expected to behave as an annual in our climate if left outdoors over the winter, usually needing replacement the following year. As such, gardeners should take into consideration that it will perform differently than it would in its native habitat.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species. It can be propagated by cuttings; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Freefolk Rosy Gaura is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.