Gaura lindheimeri Passionate Blush™ PP17293

Take a somewhat wild 'n woolly Western Wildflower, let an Australian plant breeder loose and Gaura 'Passionate Blush' is the result. Significant breeding improvements include a dense, upright, erect habit that retains a neat appearance throughout the seasons. Red stems and reddish buds that open to a prolific display of beautiful pink flowers that are borne on shorter than usual stems, adding color to garden borders for an extensive season with main flushes during the warmer months and spot flowering during winter months (in warmer climates). It's the perfect selection for the traditional cottage style garden where it can casually intermingle with other perennials in a border. The dense, upright habit coupled with burgundy coloring in the new growth also makes G. 'Passionate Blush' a terrific specimen shrub or for creating an eye-catching, informal hedge. It will perform well in the border and is also terrific in large size containers or tubs for inner city gardens or paved areas. Gauras are tough plants that are easy, fast growing and perform best in full sun. They tolerate a wide range of soils from sand to clay-based but perform best in well-drained, moist and fertile soil with occasional to regular summer watering. They're a good choice for xeric (water-wise) gardens, as they will grow in hot, dry conditions, but mulching and occasional deep watering during extended dry periods is recommended. Gauras are easy to prune ? just trim off up to half of the plant's overall size in early spring to promote flower production and to maintain a neat shape. A light prune to remove spent flower stems in mid summer can extend flowering into winter. An application of slow release fertilizer during early spring is also beneficial.

The dark foliage of this Gaura makes a beautiful foil for the masses of tall wispy deep pink spikes which are covered by a succession of large pink butterfly-like flowers throughout summer. A tough and hardy, drought tolerant, perennial US Native. Great for butterflies.

Compact form only about 2 feet tall and wide with pink flowers on foliage that has a nice reddish flush in the spring. I have an irrational loathing for guara, but I have to admit they are tough and very long blooming. Most references say only hardy to zone 6 or even 7, but this species seems to be permanent in landscapes here in zone 5.