Is Gaura deer resistant?
Oenothera lindheimeri
Light browsing at worst; rarely ruined.
Not listed by Rutgers NJAES. Rating reflects general horticultural consensus.
About Gaura
Airy sprays of small flowers on wiry stems that move constantly, and deer show almost no interest. It is short-lived and everyone should expect that. Three or four years is a good run, and it tends to die in winter rather than fade politely, so a plant that looked fine in October can simply be absent in April. It self-sows enough to keep itself going in a bed that suits it. Sharp drainage is the difference between three years and one. Heavy wet soil in winter kills it outright. It also resents transplanting once established, because of a deep taproot, so put it where you want it and leave it there.
Soil and care
- Soil pH
- 6 to 7.5
- Drainage
- Sharp, gritty. Will rot in wet soil
- Water
- Low
- Fertility
- Low
- Spacing
- 18 to 24 in apart
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Maintenance
- Low
Tolerances and uses
- Drought
- High
- Salt
- Moderate
- Pollinators
- Moderate
- Containers
Similar to Gaura
Other perennials with the same deer rating.
- African LilyAgapanthus sp.Zones 8–11, genus rangeSeldom damaged
- AsparagusAsparagus officinalisZones 2–9Seldom damaged
- AsterAster sp.Zones 3–8, genus rangeSeldom damaged
- AstilbeAstilbe x arendsiiZones 3–8Seldom damaged
- Baby's BreathGypsophila sp.Zones 3–9, genus rangeSeldom damaged
- BastardsageEriogonum wrightiiZones 5–10Seldom damaged
Where Gaura grows
Hardy across most of these 50 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- New York
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Virginia
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Wisconsin
- Ohio
- Indiana
- Illinois
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- Tennessee
- Georgia
- Texasnative
- Colorado
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
- Maine
- Rhode Island
- Delaware
- West Virginia
- Kentucky
- South Carolina
- Florida
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- Louisiananative
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- Iowa
- South Dakota
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Idaho
- Utah
- Nevada
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Alaska
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
Highlighted states are within its native range according to the USDA PLANTS database, where it is native to 2 US states in total.
Browse from here
Every list Gaura belongs to.
Hardy in these zones
Common questions about Gaura
- Is Gaura deer resistant?
- Gaura (Oenothera lindheimeri) is rated Seldom Severely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Light browsing at worst; rarely ruined.
- What hardiness zones does Gaura grow in?
- Gaura is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
- Does Gaura grow in shade?
- No. Gaura wants full sun and will grow thin and flop in shade.
- How big does Gaura get?
- Mature height is roughly 36–60 in. Growth rate is fast.
- When does Gaura bloom?
- Gaura flowers from May–October.