Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Gaura lindheimeri 'Whirling Butterflies' (Gaura 'Whirling Butterflies')
1 hour care
per year
per year
1.2m
Max height
Max height
1m
Max spread
Max spread
2-5 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Gaura lindheimeri 'Whirling Butterflies'
Other names
Gaura 'Whirling Butterflies', White indian feather
Genus
Gaura Gaura
Variety or Cultivar
'Whirling Butterflies' _ 'Whirling Butterflies' is a bushy, upright, clump-forming perennial with small, grey-green leaves and long, red stems bearing white, star-shaped flowers with red sepals from late spring to autumn.
Gaura lindheimeri 'Whirling Butterflies' is: Deciduous
Habit
Bushy, Clump-forming, Upright
Flower
White in Spring; White in Summer; White in Autumn
Foliage
Grey-green in Spring; Grey-green in Summer; Grey-green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
General care
Pruning
May be cut back after first flowering flush for rebloom 4-6 weeks later. Cut back in spring before new growth appears.
Propagation methods
Basal cuttings, Division, Semi-hardwood cuttings, Softwood cuttings
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Gaura lindheimeri 'Whirling Butterflies' (Gaura 'Whirling Butterflies') will reach a height of 1.2m and a spread of 1m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Drought Tolerant, Ground Cover, Prairie planting, Wildflower, Wildlife
Cultivation
Prefers moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun but dry soils and partial shade are tolerated. Stems may flop in rich soil or partal shade.
Soil type
Chalky, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Gaura lindheimeri 'Whirling Butterflies'
Other names
Gaura 'Whirling Butterflies', White indian feather
Genus
Gaura Gaura
Variety or Cultivar
'Whirling Butterflies' _ 'Whirling Butterflies' is a bushy, upright, clump-forming perennial with small, grey-green leaves and long, red stems bearing white, star-shaped flowers with red sepals from late spring to autumn.
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy, Clump-forming, Upright
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
White in Spring; White in Summer; White in Autumn
Foliage
Grey-green in Spring; Grey-green in Summer; Grey-green in Autumn
General care
Pruning
May be cut back after first flowering flush for rebloom 4-6 weeks later. Cut back in spring before new growth appears.
Propagation methods
Basal cuttings, Division, Semi-hardwood cuttings, Softwood cuttings
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Gaura lindheimeri 'Whirling Butterflies' (Gaura 'Whirling Butterflies') will reach a height of 1.2m and a spread of 1m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Drought Tolerant, Ground Cover, Prairie planting, Wildflower, Wildlife
Cultivation
Prefers moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun but dry soils and partial shade are tolerated. Stems may flop in rich soil or partal shade.
Soil type
Chalky, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
Gaura lindheimeri 'Whirling Butterflies' (Gaura 'Whirling Butterflies')
Gaura lindheimeri 'Whirling Butterflies' (Gaura 'Whirling Butterflies')
Gaura lindheimeri 'Whirling Butterflies' (Gaura 'Whirling Butterflies')
Gaura Whirling Butterflies - Salamander Garden Design
(06/10/2010)
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Loamy, Sandy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | North, South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
GARDENS WITH THIS PLANT
ARTICLES WITH THIS PLANT
By Garden Designer Tony Woods. As our world changes, the need to take care of our most precious resource is greater than ever. Weather is increasingly unpredictable, with drier summers… read more
By London based garden designer Pippa Schofield. The brief for this garden was to change the whole way the garden was organised. read more
By Cheshire based garden designers Jane Bingham and Penny Hearn. A conceptual garden created to support the Mid Cheshire Hospital Charity’s ‘Everybody Knows Somebody’ dementia… read more
Piet Oudolf is a world-famous garden designer, nurseryman and writer. In 2013, he singled out the 100 plants he won't do without and we have them all listed for you here in Shoot. read more
2016 marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death in 1616. Hampton Court Palace and Shakespeare share a rich history together so where better to celebrate Shakespeare’s talent as… read more
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login
DISCUSS THIS PLANT
Whirling Butterflies - poor growth and some plants died
There is 1 active discussion about Gaura lindheimeri 'Whirling Butterflies' (Gaura 'Whirling Butterflies')
View all discussions