Botanical Name: Gaura lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterflies’

Common Name: Gaura, Beeblossom, Wandflower

Hardiness Zone: Perennial in Most Climates (USDA Zones 5–9)

Size: 24–36" Tall × 18–24" Spread

Growth Habit: Upright, Airy, Graceful, Open Habit

Sunlight: Full Sun (Best Flowering); Tolerates Light Shade

Soil: Prefers Well-Drained Soil; Tolerates Poor or Sandy Soils

Water Needs: Low to Moderate; Drought Tolerant Once Established

Bloom Season: Late Spring through Fall

Fertilizer: Minimal; Avoid Excess Fertility

Features: White Butterfly-Like Flowers with Pink Tints, Exceptional Movement, Long Bloom Season, Heat Tolerant, Pollinator Friendly

Uses: Ideal for Borders, Pollinator Gardens, Cottage Gardens, Mass Plantings, and Naturalized Designs

Patent: ❌ Not Patented

Propagation: ✔ Propagation Allowed

See our complete Gaura Plant Guide for more in depth care details.

More About Gaura ‘Whirling Butterflies’

‘Whirling Butterflies’ is the variety that really put Gaura on the map for most gardeners, and honestly, it still earns its place. The first time I planted it years ago, I remember stepping back and realizing it did not look like a typical perennial at all. The white blooms, often kissed with a soft blush of pink, hover and sway on tall, wiry stems that seem to catch every breeze. It is not stiff. It is not rigid. It moves constantly, which gives the entire planting a sense of life that you just cannot replicate with heavier flowers.

Unlike the newer compact selections, ‘Whirling Butterflies’ leans into its natural, open habit. It grows taller and a little looser, and that is exactly the point. The stems rise and branch outward, allowing the flowers to dance freely above the foliage from Late Spring through Fall. In the right setting, that airy structure feels intentional rather than messy. It has that relaxed prairie character that softens hard lines and blends beautifully into more naturalistic designs.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our testing, ‘Whirling Butterflies’ has proven itself in true full sun and sharply drained soil. I have planted it in some of our hottest beds where irrigation is not generous, and once established, it handled drought without complaint. Through the thick of Summer heat and humidity, it kept pushing bloom stems when other perennials were starting to look tired. It is not a plant that gives you one dramatic flush and disappears. It keeps working. That stamina is one of the reasons it has remained popular for so long.

Where this variety really shines for us is in looser, pollinator-focused plantings. Bees stay on it steadily throughout the day, and butterflies seem to hover around it just as much as the blooms themselves. I especially like pairing it with ornamental grasses, upright Salvias, and Echinacea where the movement layers together and creates a soft, meadow-like effect. It fills space without blocking sight lines, which makes it valuable toward the middle or back of a border. When the light hits it in the evening and the stems are swaying, it feels almost weightless. That kind of movement is hard to design on paper, but this plant delivers it naturally.

Whirling Butterflies vs. Other Gaura Varieties

Gaura Whirling Butterflies is the most natural and free-form variety in this comparison, known for its airy stems and fluttering white blooms. Compared to every other variety listed, it has the loosest habit and the most movement, creating a meadow-like effect that feels spontaneous and light. While Belleza White and Bantam White offer structure, Whirling Butterflies offers motion, making it ideal for cottage gardens, pollinator plantings, and informal borders.

In contrast to Passionate Rainbow, Whirling Butterflies lacks foliage drama but compensates with elegance and scale. It grows taller and wider than Bantam White and reads as less controlled than the Belleza series, which may require staking or space to sprawl naturally. Gardeners who love a romantic, flowing garden aesthetic often consider Whirling Butterflies the most iconic Gaura, especially when allowed to move freely in the landscape.