Gaura lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterflies’ – Clouds of Dancing White Flowers All Summer Long
Gaura lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterflies’ is one of the most elegant and free-flowering perennials available, producing hundreds of delicate white flowers that appear to float and dance above the plant from early summer until the first frosts. The blooms are borne on slender, wiry stems and move gracefully in the slightest breeze, creating the impression of a cloud of fluttering butterflies hovering above the border.
Its long flowering season makes it invaluable in the garden, providing continuous colour and movement when many other perennials have finished their main display. The pure white flowers emerge from pink-tinted buds, adding further interest and contrast throughout the season.
The plant forms a neat clump of narrow green foliage, from which the airy flowering stems rise, creating a light, transparent effect that blends beautifully with surrounding plants. This natural, informal habit makes it ideal for cottage gardens, prairie-style planting, contemporary borders, and wildlife-friendly schemes.
Highly attractive to bees and pollinating insects, ‘Whirling Butterflies’ brings both beauty and biodiversity to the garden. It also performs exceptionally well in containers, where its graceful flowering stems can spill naturally amongst other summer-flowering plants.
Once established, Gaura is remarkably drought tolerant and thrives in sunny positions with well-drained soil. It requires very little maintenance and rewards gardeners with months of effortless colour and movement.
Elegant, resilient, and endlessly floriferous, Gaura ‘Whirling Butterflies’ is a superb choice for adding softness, texture, and long-lasting seasonal interest to any garden.
Seasonal Beauty & Growth
Spring
Fresh green foliage emerges, forming neat clumps and producing the first flowering stems.
Summer
Masses of delicate white flowers open continuously, creating a light and airy display.
Autumn
Flowering continues well into autumn, often until the first frosts.
Winter
The plant dies back, ready to re-emerge vigorously in spring.
Why Grow Gaura 'Whirling Butterflies'?
✔ Flowers continuously from early summer until frost
✔ Delicate butterfly-like white blooms
✔ Adds movement and softness to planting schemes
✔ Highly attractive to bees and pollinators
✔ Drought tolerant once established
✔ Excellent for borders, prairie planting, and containers
✔ Low maintenance and easy to grow
Perfect For
- Cottage gardens
- Prairie-style planting
- Wildlife-friendly gardens
- Mixed perennial borders
- Contemporary landscapes
- Patio containers
- Gravel and drought-tolerant gardens
Planting & Care Guide
Position: Full sun preferred.
Soil: Well-drained soil; thrives in poor to moderately fertile soils.
Hardiness: Fully hardy in most UK gardens.
Watering: Water during establishment; drought tolerant once established.
Pruning: Cut back old stems in early spring before new growth appears.
Ultimate Size: Approximately 60–90cm tall and 40–60cm wide.
Looks Great With
- Salvia ‘Caradonna’
- Verbena bonariensis
- Perovskia ‘Blue Spire’
- Echinacea purpurea
- Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’
- Stipa tenuissima
- Lavender
Gaura ‘Whirling Butterflies’ is one of the longest-flowering and most graceful perennials you can grow, bringing months of elegant white blooms, pollinator appeal, and effortless movement to sunny garden borders.
Does the height include the pot?
No, we measure from the top of the pot to the tip of the plant except for some of the instant planted screens, in this case it will be stated in the description
How long does delivery take?
Most orders are delivered in just a few days, Smaller items are often sent with Parcelforce on a next day service, Larger items should allow up to 10 days due to the size of the items they often have to be sent on our own transport.
Where will you leave my plants?
We will leave your order at the front of your property, Parcelforce may
leave your items in a safe place if you let us know, Pallet couriers
will require a flat hard surface to deliver to, no gravel or soil, a
driveway or parking spot would be best. Most importantly Deliveries by
pallet courier will require access for a large truck (bin lorry sized)
to get near the delivery point. Deliveries sent on our own transport may come in a small van or larger truck.
