Join / Renew / Gift Donate Shop Member Portal Language

Search
npsot_bluebonnet_full_color

Native Plant Society of Texas

Butterfly Gaura

Oenothera lindheimeri

Other common name(s):

Lindheimer's Beeblossom, White gaura, Clockweed

Family:

Onagraceae (Evening Primrose Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Flatwoods, Southern Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

2
to
5
ft.

Spread

1
to
1
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Calcareous, Moist

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Grassland, Woodland, Wetland or Riparian

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White, Pink

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Moths, Bees

Maintenance

A large, showy gaura often forming extensive colonies. Flowers open in the morning. The “fragrance” has been compared to cat urine. Cut to 1/2 in July for thicker, more compact foliage. Looks good in the back of a perennial border or bed. Native habitat: prairies, pinelands, and pond edges. Propagation: stem cutting, seed.

Comments

Blooms April-October. Upright to widely spreading form, with branches arching in many directions. Leaf color is dark green in summer, and red, gold or purple in the fall. The flowers are four-petaled, in one row on the upward side, arranged in spikes, with long stamens hanging down. The fruit is a capsule.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Gaura lindheimeri

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Stem Cutting Strip away the bottom leaf leaving a scar where the leaf was, the roots will sprout from here. Push the cuttings into the soil mix, without the need to create a hole or draw a line. It’s a good idea to water the mix first to firm it up. When the mix is dry the cuttings do not hold in place well. Once all your cuttings are in the mix, water thoroughly. As the cuttings have no roots at this stage they must be kept moist. Check the perlite peat moss mix daily, if it has moisture in it you are fine. If you notice it getting a little dry on top, give it a light watering. Also the cuttings must be kept in an area out of direct sunlight and wind. These elements will quickly dry out the cuttings. It should only take about 2 months for the cuttings to develop roots. 3 months at the most. Once our cuttings have roots we can pot them up. We choose to pot our cuttings into 2″(50mm) pots. These smaller pots allow us to use up less valuable space within the nursery, but still provide a great root system for our new plants. Use stems that are still green but low enough down the stem that they are quite firm. Avoid taking cuttings near the top, as each stem is a flower spike. Cuttings taken near the top will still work but they tend to take longer and don’t provide a plant that is as bushy. cut the stem below a leaf join, this is called a node. Then cut the stem above the next leaf. https://www.everydaywits.com/how-to-propagate-gaura-lindheimeributterfly-bush/

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason