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Biennial Gaura

Oenothera gaura

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Category
Forb / Wildflower
Sun
Full to Partial
Soil moisture
Medium-Dry to Dry
Bloom time
Jul–Oct
Bloom color
Pink
Notes
Biennial

About Biennial Gaura

Biennial Gaura, often called Biennial Beeblossom, is a charming and resilient wildflower that bridges the gap between the summer and autumn garden. This biennial species produces a cloud of delicate, star-shaped flowers on wiry, multi-branched stems that sway gracefully in the wind. The flowers open white in the evening and age to a lovely pink by the next morning, creating a dynamic display from July through October. Reaching 2 to 6 feet in height, it provides a vital late-season nectar source for bees and butterflies. It is native to much of eastern and central North America and is frequently found in fields, barrens, and along streambanks, showing a preference for medium-dry to dry soils and full sun. The plant is notably deer-resistant and thrives in summer heat with minimal intervention. Its airy structure makes it an excellent companion for coarser-textured plants, adding a sense of lightness to the landscape. As a biennial, it spends its first year as a quiet rosette before exploding into bloom the following season, often self-seeding to maintain a permanent presence.

Native range

Native to 24 states:

AlabamaConnecticutD.C.DelawareGeorgiaIowaIllinoisIndianaKentuckyMassachusettsMarylandMichiganMinnesotaMississippiNorth CarolinaNew JerseyNew YorkOhioPennsylvaniaSouth CarolinaTennesseeVirginiaWisconsinWest Virginia

County range map

BONAP county-level native range map for Oenothera gaura

Range map courtesy of BONAP (Biota of North America Program).

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