How to identify Biennial Gaura (Oenothera gaura)

How to identify Biennial Gaura (Oenothera gaura)

Biennial Gaura features an upright form, with a robust stem that can grow up to 3 feet (91 cm) tall. Its leaves are lance-shaped, usually about 3 inches (7.6 cm) long, with a slightly toothed margin. The plant is known for its intriguing flowers. Each has four white to pink petals that fade to a lovely rose with age, blooming in the evening. The flowers form on a long, thin spike that gives biennial Gaura a delicate and airy appearance.

Lifespan: Biennial

Plant Type: Herb

Leaf Type: Semi-evergreen

Quickly Identify Biennial Gaura

Upright stem can grow up to 3 feet (91 cm) tall.

Distinctive diamond-shaped fruit capsule with prominent ribs.

Leaves have acute tips, narrow bases, and short hairs on undersides.

Flowers bloom in the evening, with white petals fading to pink.

Stem covered in white hairs, may have a red tinge.

Detailed Traits of Biennial Gaura

Leaf Features

The leaves of biennial Gaura exhibit distinctive characteristics across its two growth stages. In the first year, they form a dense, flat rosette. By the second year, the leaves are arranged oppositely on the stem, are stalkless, and possess a lance-elliptical shape with acute tips and narrow bases. They measure between 3-7 inches (7.5-18 cm) in length and 0.5-1 inch (1.3-2.5 cm) in width. The undersides are covered with short hairs, and the margins are either entire or slightly dentate.

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Flower Features

Biennial Gaura flowers, blooming from June to October, are white and gradually fade to a pinkish hue. Each flower is about 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) wide, featuring four fan-like petals. The long stamens are arranged horizontally to the petals, creating a striking contrast. The flowers are arranged in open panicles on spikes that can reach up to 6 feet (180 cm) tall, making them a notable presence in their habitat.

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Stem Features

The stem of biennial Gaura is characterized by its green color, often exhibiting a red tinge. It is covered in spreading white hairs, giving it a somewhat fuzzy appearance. The stem can be either angular or round in shape. It typically has a medium thickness, approximately 0.2 to 0.4 inches (0.5 to 1 cm) in diameter, and may exhibit a branching pattern. These key features help in distinguishing biennial Gaura from other similar plants.

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Fruit Features

The fruit of biennial Gaura is a distinctive diamond-shaped capsule with four prominent sides, each side featuring a pronounced rib. This ribbed texture runs along the angles, contributing to its characteristic appearance. The fruit tapers into a cone-like tip and measures approximately ⅛ to ⅓ inch (3 to 8 mm) in length. It is adorned with fine hairs on the outer surface, which lend it a subtle, tactile quality. These fruits mature from July to November, encapsulating the seeds until dispersal.

Learn About the Fruit Glossary

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Biennial Gaura and Their Similar Plants

Common evening-primrose vs. Biennial Gaura: What's The Difference?

Common evening-primrose is an herbaceous perennial plant recognized by its yellow flowers, which open in the evening and close again at sunrise. It is often cultivated as a decorative plant, especially in drought-prone areas. Native Americans cooked Oenothera biennis roots as a food source, but it is said that consumption of this plant could cause headaches and diarrhea.

Lindheimer's beeblossom vs. Biennial Gaura: What's The Difference?

Lindheimer's beeblossom (Oenothera lindheimeri) is a perennial plant native to the Louisiana and Texas regions of the United States. The Latin name for this species was formerly Gaura lindheimeri. Lindheimer's beeblossom is commonly grown as an ornamental plant in pots or flower beds. The plant grows well in full sunlight and can withstand drought conditions.

Pinkladies vs. Biennial Gaura: What's The Difference?

Pinkladies natives to the grasslands in the Central United States but spread outside its native states quickly. Today, it has been naturalized in a total of 28 states in the US and spreading as far south as Chihuahua and Coahuila in Mexico. Pinkladies is commonly used as an ornamental ground cover plant but escaped out from the gardens quickly.

Narrowleaf evening primrose vs. Biennial Gaura: What's The Difference?

Narrowleaf evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa) is a flowering plant native to North America. The narrowleaf evening primrose grows in woodland areas and dry rocky soils and sometimes cultivated as ornamental plants. The taxonomy of this species is controversial in the scientific community, they can interbreed freely with many other evening primroses.

Lindheimer's beeblossom 'Siskiyou Pink' vs. Biennial Gaura: What's The Difference?

Lindheimer's beeblossom 'Siskiyou Pink' boasts delicate, star-shaped pink blossoms towering on slender stalks, rising above narrow, lance-shaped leaves. Thriving in well-drained soils under full sun, this hardy perennial exhibits a bushy clump-forming habit, making it an eye-catching addition to garden borders. Its drought resistance is a testament to lindheimer's beeblossom 'Siskiyou Pink''s adaptability to warm, arid environments, reflecting its prairie origins.

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Key Facts About Biennial Gaura

Attributes of Biennial Gaura

Plant Height

61 cm to 1.8 m

Flower Size

2.5 cm

Flower Color

White

Pink

Leaf type

Semi-evergreen

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Scientific Classification of Biennial Gaura

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Species

Biennial Gaura (Oenothera gaura)

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Distribution Map of Biennial Gaura

Biennial Gaura is native to North America but has found its way to parts of Europe where it is now introduced. It thrives in its home terrain, encompassing a range of habitats. Beyond its indigenous origins, biennial Gaura has been embraced in horticulture and can be found cultivated in gardens and landscapes, signifying an adaptive capability that transcends its original locale.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

Learn More About the Biennial Gaura

A Comprehensive Guide to Biennial Gaura How to Grow and Care for Biennial Gaura