Gaura in Winter: How to Care for Your Plant
Learn how to properly care for Gaura through its winter dormancy. Guide your perennial through its rest period to ensure it returns healthy and vibrant.
Gaura, also known as beeblossom, is a popular perennial celebrated for its delicate flowers that bloom for an extended season. As a low-maintenance plant, its care requirements shift with the arrival of colder weather to ensure its health through the winter months.
Gaura’s Winter Dormancy
As a herbaceous perennial, Gaura enters a dormant state to survive the cold. Dropping temperatures and shorter daylight hours trigger this process, causing the plant to redirect its energy from foliage and flower production into its root system. Following the first significant frosts, the plant’s above-ground growth, including its stems and leaves, will turn brown and die back.
This dieback is a normal part of the plant’s annual life cycle. Although the top growth may appear lifeless, the crown and root system underground remain alive, conserving resources for the next growing season. The plant remains in this dormant state throughout winter, waiting for the warmth of spring to initiate new growth.
Pruning Gaura for Winter
One approach is to prune Gaura in late autumn or early winter, after it has been hit by several hard frosts. This timing ensures the plant is dormant and won’t be stimulated to produce new growth that could be damaged by the cold. Pruning at this stage also results in a tidier garden bed throughout the winter.
An alternative is to wait until late winter or early spring, just before new growth emerges. Leaving the dead stems and foliage in place over winter can offer insulation for the plant’s crown, which is where stems and roots meet at the soil line. This material can trap snow and leaves, providing a protective layer and shelter for beneficial insects.
Regardless of timing, use clean, sharp pruning shears to cut all dead stems back, leaving about 2 to 4 inches of the base above the ground. This small framework helps mark the plant’s location. Removing the old, spent growth prevents potential fungal issues from overwintering and improves air circulation for the new foliage to come.
Winter Protection and Care
Applying a layer of mulch can help protect Gaura in colder regions. After the ground has frozen, spread a 2 to 3-inch layer of organic mulch, such as shredded leaves, straw, or wood chips, around the plant’s base. The primary function of this layer is to insulate the soil from temperature swings, preventing freeze-thaw cycles that can heave roots out of the ground.
Gaura grown in containers needs special care, as their roots are more exposed to cold air than those of in-ground plants. The soil in pots freezes more quickly. To protect these plants, move containers to a sheltered location away from harsh wind and precipitation, such as an unheated garage, a cold greenhouse, or a shed.
Watering for potted Gaura should be reduced significantly during winter. The goal is to prevent the soil from drying out completely. Check the soil every few weeks and provide a small amount of water only if it feels dry, as this prevents root rot while keeping the dormant roots alive.