Wildflower/Perennial
Whirling Butterflies
Oenothera lindheimeri · Onagraceae
Also called: Gaura, Lindheimer's Beeblossom, White Gaura, Wand Flower
Whirling Butterflies (Oenothera lindheimeri) is a low-water wildflower/perennial well suited to Tucson and the low desert.
Whirling Butterflies at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun to light afternoon shade; flowers and stays most compact in full sun.
- Mature size
- 2-3 ft H x 2-3 ft W (some cultivars/dwarf forms 12-18 in)
- Growth rate
- Moderate to fast; clumps fill in within a season.
- Bloom
- White to pink, fading to rose-pink; airy flowers on slender wands. Cultivars range from white ('Whirling Butterflies') to deep pink ('Siskiyou Pink')., Spring through fall (roughly March-November in Tucson), heaviest in spring and again after monsoon; long bloom season.
- Cold hardiness
- Cold hardy to about 0-10 F (USDA zones 5-9); root-hardy and reliably perennial in Tucson.
- Soil
- Well-drained soil; tolerates poor, sandy or rocky soils. Needs good drainage and dislikes heavy, wet clay or overwatered situations.
- Native range
- South-central United States (Texas, Louisiana) into northern Mexico; not native to the Sonoran Desert.
- Best used as
- Perennial border, Accent in flower beds, Mass planting, Pollinator garden, Container plantings, Filler among other perennials
- Wildlife
- Excellent nectar source for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators; attracts hummingbirds. Not notably deer-resistant.
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic; no significant toxicity reported to people or pets.
How to grow Whirling Butterflies in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Water deeply but infrequently once established; allow soil to dry between irrigations. Supplemental water every 1-2 weeks in summer heat keeps it blooming; overwatering causes floppy, short-lived plants.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Low fertilizer needs; a single light application of balanced or slow-release fertilizer in spring is sufficient. Excess nitrogen produces lush, weak, floppy growth at the expense of flowers.
Pruning & care
Shear back by one-third to one-half after the main flush to encourage rebloom and keep it tidy; cut nearly to the ground in late winter to renew. Deadheading prolongs bloom.
Notes
Recently reclassified from Gaura lindheimeri to Oenothera lindheimeri; 'Gaura' persists as a common name. Short-lived perennial (often 2-4 years) but may reseed. Airy, delicate texture; combines well with desert-adapted perennials. Performs best with good drainage and restraint on water and fertilizer.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; AMWUA Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert; Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; Tucson Botanical Gardens