Oenothera lindheimeri

Identification tip: Similar to Gaura longiflora but can be distinguished by its large flowers with 4-11.5 mm long hypanthium, 7-14 mm long sepals, 7-13.5 mm long petals and 4.5-6 mm long fruits. Gaura longiflora is an annual or biennial growing from a taproot and has smaller flowers with short stiff hairs on the sepals.

Seeds germinate easily. May be propagated from stem cuttings taken in late spring to summer. Plants reseed readily and spread rapidly during the early stages of restorations in Louisiana and east Texas. Volunteer seedlings can be transplanted easily. Gaura lindheimeri blooms 8 months out of the year in the South, and is widely grown as an ornamental plant. Because it reseeds so readily it can become weedy. Seeds average approximately 390,000/lb.

Acceptable to cattle as forage. Produces large amounts of nectar and attracts many bees and butterflies.

Common in black-soil prairies of south-central and southeast Texas and coastal prairies of south Louisiana and east Texas. Also reported from Oklahoma.

Blackland soils and prairies.