Gaura lindheimeri Corries Gold

Gaura lindheimeri Corrie's Gold forms a beautiful, vigorous bush, extremely floriferous, covered from June to September with abundant white and pale pink flowers, tinged with brown on the outside of the petals. Its deciduous foliage is composed of small villous leaves, pale green bordered with gold. Its growth is rapid. This plant, although short-lived, is both elegant and proud, essential in a flower garden. Ideal in dry to moist, even poor soil, in the sun.

Gaura linddheimeri Corrie's Gold belongs to the family Onagraceae and is a cousin of evening primroses. The natural range of Gaura lindheimeri from which it originates is located on the border between Mexico and the United States (Prairies and pine forests of Louisiana and Texas, Houston). It is one of the most floriferous plants. 'Corrie's Gold' has a slightly loose habit. It is a perennial with a taproot, forming a spreading, slightly spreading, bushy clump, 80 cm (32in) tall, with a spread of 50 cm (20in). It is the branched, very numerous and fine flowering stems that give the plant its bushy appearance. The flowering takes place in successive waves, from mid-spring to autumn. The flowers, resembling butterflies, follow each other, grouped in paniculate spikes 30 to 80 cm (12 to 32in) long, white, washed with pale pink, slightly amber on the outside, identical to the type species. The foliage is magnificent. The lamina of each leaf is variegated on the edge with light green, cream and golden yellow. These small leaves are villous on both sides. The root system is a taproot that allows the plant to anchor itself in poor, even rocky soils.

Gauras have quickly become the stars of urban flower beds and gardens. This success is due to their incredible abundance and the speed at which they develop. These plants, which seem unaffected by the wind, quickly become indispensable for those who have tried them for a year. Wherever they are planted, they bring lightness and grace. Gaura lindheimeri 'Corrie's Gold' has its place in the background of herbaceous borders or massifs. It goes well with roses, grows among bushes such as abelias and deutzias, and accompanies frugal perennials such as daylilies, catmints, Scabiosa Moon Dance, Asclepias Ice Ballet and Oenothera versicolor. Gaura also does very well in large pots.

The species name comes from the Greek 'gauros' which means magnificent or proud, alluding to its astonishing flowering that resembles butterflies hanging from its stems.