Landscaping Ideas - Choose the Great Gaura For a Spectacular Sea of Pink With Very Little Watering

If you have been perusing through online plant catalogs, or wandering the aisles of a nearby nursery or two just to find the perfect drought tolerant perennial plant with vibrant lasting color, take a good look at the great Gaura. Your goals of conserving water and adding a pulsating wave of color at the same time may have just been solved.

The Gaura plant, or Gaura Lindheimeri to be exact, is becoming very popular in California and other arid regions of the southwest, with most cultivars and varieties thriving in zones 6a through 9b. Yet, there are numerous species of plants that have become prominent in these regions. So, why is the Gaura more popular than ever and replacing the overused Day Lily as a drought tolerant staple in the garden? Let us explore the habitat of the Gaura plant, and explain other reasons for the success of this hardy plant in landscapes in our region and beyond.

The Gaura plant and its ability to alleviate a homeowner search for drought tolerant plants is only one reason for its success. As a mature plant, it also rewards the environment it calls home with vibrant blooming color that will range depending on the cultivar from white through various shades of pink. We planted the Pink Fountain or Indian Feather variety that displays a crisp almost pastel like pink from early spring through the fall season. We really look forward to the brilliant cascading sea of pink blossoms that stand tall at the ends of 3 to 4 foot tall stalks. I have to feel sorry for the Viburnum shrub that grows nearby and only blooms for 2 weeks out of the year. It must be envious of the great Gaura in the way it struts its stuff for most of the year.

In the fall, the flowers fade and dry out, and the Gaura gets ready for its winter rest. Being a fast growing very root hardy perennial, the plant will easily resprout from the rootstock beginning again in the spring. That is why anyone fortunate enough to plant it should remember to cut it back strong before the spring growing season begins. Once you do so, in a few short weeks you will be rewarded with beautiful color in your garden for the warm seasons.

We also marvel at the color of the foliage prior to starting its blooming and carrying through to the fall. It has an almost wine like lushness in its texture that goes perfectly with other plants displaying pink, shades of red, and white.

Pay attention to the great Gaura, and look for it in local nurseries. As a drought tolerant vibrantly colored perennial, it cannot be beat.