Oenothera lindheimeri (Gaura lindheimeri) 'Crimson Butterflies' (Wandflower)

Oenothera lindheimeri 'Crimson Butterflies' is a cultivar of wandflower, previously known as Gaura lindheimeri. The 'Crimson Butterflies' cultivar is the best of both worlds between the 'Siskiyou Pink' and 'Whirling Butterfly' varieties, offering a compact growth habit and pink-tinted foliage with showy, upright flower spikes of delicate, pink-toned flowers that catch the breeze like butterflies in flight. Showy and versatile, wandflower is not too picky about its growth conditions, preferring well-draining sandy soils, but tolerating heat, humidity, and drought. Growing to only 12-18" tall and wide, this variey is smaller than its parent species, adding graceful beauty to meadows and pollinator gardens as well as compact garden spaces.

Oenothera lindheimeri 'Crimson Butterflies' enjoys a long bloom season, producing flowers from late spring or early summer into the fall on upright spikes that sway beautifully above mounds of pink and green foliage. Oenothera lindheimeri performs best in full sun and moist but well-drained sandy loam, as too much moisture can cause root rot in a susceptible, taprooted plant. 'Crimson Butterflies' flowers are attractive to butterflies and other pollinators, and also make for great cut flowers; flower stalks may flop over as the season progresses, so spent flowers and active stems may be deadheaded (or cut for flower arrangements) to maintain the plant's structure.