gaura plant seeds Gaura Pink Bouquet Seeds

gaura plant seeds Gaura Pink Bouquet SeedsGaura lindheimeri 'Pink Bouquet' Whirling Butterflies 'Pink Bouquet' Clouds of soft pink starry blooms held on slender, arching, almost invisible stems that dance and shimmer in the slightest breeze Gaura 'Pink Bouquet' is the cottage garden's most graceful blush pink perennial, providing months of soft, romantic colour with the lightness and movement of butterflies in flight. If you've ever watched a Gaura on a summer afternoon you'll understand why

Gaura lindheimeri 'Pink Bouquet' Whirling Butterflies 'Pink Bouquet'

Clouds of soft pink starry blooms held on slender, arching, almost-invisible stems that dance and shimmer in the slightest breeze — Gaura 'Pink Bouquet' is the cottage garden's most graceful blush-pink perennial, providing months of soft, romantic colour with the lightness and movement of butterflies in flight.

If you've ever watched a Gaura on a summer afternoon you'll understand why its common name is "Whirling Butterflies" — the soft pink four-petalled flowers are held so loosely on such slender, almost-invisible stems that the slightest breeze sets the entire plant trembling and dancing, the individual blooms quivering like a swarm of pale butterflies. Native to the prairies of Texas and Louisiana, Gaura is fully drought-tolerant once established and flowers continuously from June through to October — a remarkably long flowering season for a perennial. 'Pink Bouquet' delivers soft blush-pink flowers on tidy bushy plants reaching 60–90cm. Hardy perennial (H4–H5), surviving most UK winters in well-drained positions. RHS Plants for Pollinators recognised, particularly valued by bees, butterflies and hoverflies who visit the open accessible blooms throughout the long season.

A note on growing

Sow indoors from February to April at 18–22°C. Surface-sow as Gaura seeds need light to germinate; press gently into moist compost without covering. Germination is sometimes variable — typically 14–28 days. Pot on once large enough to handle. Like most prairie perennials from seed, the first year focuses on root establishment with modest flowering; from Year 2 onwards Gaura comes into its full architectural and floriferous display.

Plant out into full sun in well-drained soil after frost risk has passed. Gaura is genuinely intolerant of waterlogged winter ground — this is the single most common cause of plant failure. Gravel gardens, sandy soils and raised beds suit it perfectly; heavy clay does not. Once established, drought-tolerance is exceptional. Plants can become straggly mid-season; a light trim in late July restores compact form and triggers a second flush of flowers. May behave as a short-lived perennial in particularly cold or wet UK gardens — treat as annual if necessary in challenging sites.

Where it shines

In gravel gardens and Mediterranean-style plantings where the drought-tolerance and airy form suit dry conditions perfectly. In prairie-style and naturalistic borders where the dancing pink butterfly flowers add movement and softness amongst more rigid companions. In containers and patio pots — Gaura's tolerance of dry conditions makes it ideal for situations where regular watering isn't guaranteed. As a "softener" in front of heavy or blocky planting (Echinacea, Echinops, Dahlias) — the airy stems and tiny flowers create a veil that makes rigid plantings look more natural and romantic. As a cut flower for soft, romantic, casually-styled arrangements.

Plant alongside

For prairie movement contrast, pair 'Pink Bouquet' with the rigid blue spheres of Echinops ritro and the flat pink discs of Echinacea purpurea — three different shapes in compatible colours creating proper textural interest. For an all-pink scheme of varying transparency, combine with Cornflower 'Pink Ball' and the soft cream Achillea 'Pastel Mixed'. With Gaura 'The Bride' (white sister variety) for a romantic pink-and-white prairie scheme.