Escaping along watercourses

Gaura lindheimeri is a perennial herb with wand-like flowering stalks that grow about 1.5 metres tall. Common in gardens and now escaping to become naturalised along watercourses and in waste areas. Native to southern North America. Class 5 weed in NSW. Weed risk low here, very few specimens naturalised. Leaves are light green to 10 cm long, sessile, elongated, narrow. Pronunciation: GAR-ruh lind-HYE-mur-eye. Pinkish-white flowers occur in spikes that continue to elongate during the bloom period with only a few flowers in bloom at the same time. The older flowers drop off the spike and are replaced by new ones throughout the long blooming season. Thrives in full sun to partial shade and a well-drained soil has a deep carrot-like root that does not transplant well. Spreads by seed, propagates easily.

Photo: Robert Whyte

Photo: Robert Whyte

Photo: Robert Whyte