Gaura lindheimeri Baby Butterfly Dark Pink - Lindheimer's Beeblossom

Gaura lindheimeri 'Baby Butterfly Dark Pink' is part of a new series of selected Lindheimer Gaura for their very small size and floribundity. These compact plants covered with flowers that resemble butterflies are true treasures for gardeners, and their excellent resistance to rain and wind works wonders in the garden. Regardless of the richness or freshness of the soil, 'Baby Butterfly Dark Pink' disappears for 5 months under a multitude of flowers of a deep pink colour, well distributed from top to bottom of its green stems. Insensitive to limestone and drought, gauras are unrivalled in bringing lightness to sunny flower beds, even in fairly spartan cultivation conditions.

Gaura lindheimeri belongs to the evening primrose family, it is a cousin of evening primroses. The natural range of Gaura lindheimeri is located on the border of Mexico and the United States (Prairies and hot pine forests of Louisiana and Texas, Houston). It is a short-lived perennial plant in cool and fertile soil, but it is one of the most floriferous plants.

'Baby Butterfly Dark Pink' is a recently obtained horticultural selection from South Korea. It is characterized by remarkably compact growth and a very colourful flowering. This hardy variety withstands temperatures around -15°C (5°F) for short periods and in well-drained soil. The plant forms a small bushy tuft, weakly spreading, 30 to 60cm (12 to 24in) high, with a spread of about 30cm (12in), starting from a basal rosette. It is the branched floral stems, very numerous and slender, that give the plant its bushy appearance. Flowering takes place in successive waves, from mid-spring to autumn. The dark purple flower buds open into flowers with 4 spreading petals, centered on a bouquet of long flexible stamens. They resemble pink butterflies in silhouette. Their size is comparable to that of typical gaura varieties. In spring, the branches bear apple green shoots. These unfold into elongated leaves like willow leaves, with a dark green lamina. These small leaves are downy on both sides. The root system is a taproot that allows the plant to anchor itself in poor, even rocky soils.

Gauras have quickly become the stars of urban flower beds and gardens. This success is due to their incredible floribundity and the speed at which they grow. These plants, which seem impervious to bad weather, quickly become indispensable for those who have planted them. No matter where they are planted, they bring lightness, volume and grace. Gaura lindheimeri 'Baby Butterfly' fits in all gardens and on all balconies. It has its place at the forefront of herbaceous borders, along paths or in flower beds. It goes well with ground cover roses, grows among shrubs like abelias and deutzias, accompanies small ornamental grasses, catmints, bellflowers, carnations... This little Gaura does very well in pots and balcony planters.