Gaura lindheimeri 'Kleau04263' BELLEZA™ Dark Pink gaura
Symbivit Tric (arbuscular)
Symbivit (arbuscular)Gaura
Oenothera is a large genus comprising more than a hundred species distributed mainly across North and South America. It belongs to the evening primrose family (Onagraceae) and includes remarkably diverse herbs and subshrubs with characteristic four‑petalled flowers that often respond to light conditions – many species open at dusk or during the night. The genus includes both low, pink‑flowered species forming compact clumps (Oenothera speciosa, O. berlandieri) and tall, yellow‑flowered evening primroses (O. biennis, O. glazioviana), which have been cultivated in Europe since the 17th century and became renowned for their large flowers opening in the evening. The genus also comprises prairie species with high drought tolerance, as well as steppe, sandy and rocky taxa. More recently, it has come to include the formerly separate monotypic genus Gaura, whose taxonomic placement within Oenothera has been confirmed by modern molecular studies. Species formerly known as Gaura represent a distinct and morphologically exceptional lineage within the genus: the only group with a light, airy habit, long slender stems and small, butterfly‑like flowers that bloom throughout the summer. Their origin in the dry prairies of southern Texas and north‑eastern Mexico is reflected in their remarkable tolerance of heat, wind and poor, stony soils.
Oenothera lindheimeri, formerly Gaura lindheimeri, commonly known as Lindheimer’s beeblossom, originates from southern Texas and north‑eastern Mexico, where it grows in dry prairies, open scrub and rocky slopes. It forms loose clumps with long, thin, flexible stems bearing small, four‑petalled flowers in continuously developing racemes throughout the summer. This structure is an adaptation to windy prairie conditions – the stems do not break, the flowers are easily pollinated, and the plant tolerates drought and high temperatures exceptionally well. Ecologically, it is a typical prairie perennial with a rapid spring start, a long flowering period and high tolerance of poor, stony soils. Its natural variability has provided an excellent basis for modern breeding, which has produced a wide range of cultivars differing in habit, flower colour and foliage.
Oenothera lindheimeri entered European botany in the mid‑19th century through the work of Ferdinand Jakob Lindheimer (1801–1879), a German‑Texan botanist who, after emigrating to Texas, became one of the key figures in the floristics of the American Southwest. His extensive collections, sent to European herbaria, included hundreds of previously undescribed species – among them this light, ethereal perennial, scientifically described in 1845. In European gardens it quickly gained popularity thanks to its unusual combination of features: long flowering, gentle movement in the wind and the ability to bring lightness and airiness to plantings, qualities largely absent from the perennial palette of the time. In the 20th and 21st centuries it became one of the symbols of the “new perennial movement” popularised by designers such as Piet Oudolf – plants that are not static but respond to wind, light and the seasons.
BELLEZA™ Dark Pink is a compact gaura variety producing rich pink flowers which appear in profusion atop slender, 25-30 cm tall stems which look like a bouquet of freshly cut flowers. Gaura is a perennial with extra long blooming season and which requires very little or no care at all. It emerges in late spring with deep burgundy red leaves turning green in summer when it matures to a dense and bushy clump. BELEZA™ Dark Pink was granted only a Canadian patent No. 2860 in 2007.
We noticed that if the plant is frequently fed it is big and beautiful but tends to mature more quickly and may become very short-lived and die prematurely. If your soil is reasonably fertile we recommend only one feeding - just before the buds begin to form, if you want to prolong its life.
BELLEZA™ series were bred by Nils Klemm from Selecta One in Stuttgart, Germany, a man behind more than 600 patents not only for plants but also for cultivation and breeding methods he put together during his 22 years in the company.
Last update 21-09-2021
Gauras thrive best in full sun and in well‑drained, rather poor soils that warm up quickly in spring. They do not tolerate heavy, persistently wet substrates, where the roots easily rot; on the contrary, they appreciate light, sandy or gravelly mixes. After planting they require regular watering, but once established they are markedly drought‑tolerant and cope well with short dry spells. Excess nitrogen leads to overly lush growth and poorer stem stability, so fertilise only sparingly or not at all. These are perennials with a partially woody base, which needs to be cut back close to the ground in spring – but very late, only after all frosts and the risk of wet snow have passed. Gauras emerge late, only with the arrival of genuinely warm weather. If they become lax during summer, they can be rejuvenated at the end of July by cutting back by half and applying fertiliser; they will quickly produce new, shorter and sturdier flowering stems.
In colder regions it is advisable to protect the crown with a layer of dry mulch, or cover the whole plant with conifer branches, especially in young specimens; older plants tend to be more reliable but still appreciate a sheltered position. In containers they require a very free‑draining substrate and more regular watering, but they are generally less reliable over winter. Gauras are short‑lived perennials, but under good conditions non‑sterile cultivars often reseed themselves. For a consistently attractive display it is advisable to renew the planting every few years with young plants. In marginal growing conditions, white‑flowered forms tend to be the most resilient. Hardiness usually ranges between –20 and –25 °C.
