Gaura 'Sparkle White'

Gaura 'Sparkle White': A Cloud of Light in Motion
Delicate, luminous, and endlessly blooming, Gaura 'Sparkle White' graces the garden with a profusion of crisp white flowers that flutter like butterflies above airy stems. Blooming from early summer until frost, this compact cultivar brings a sense of weightless movement and refined simplicity to borders, containers, and naturalistic plantings. Its pure white blooms, held high above a neat mound of foliage, glow against green backgrounds and shimmer in the summer sun—true to its name, a perennial that sparkles.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 30–45 cm
• Spread: 30–40 cm, forming a rounded, compact clump
• Flower Colour: Pure white, four-petaled blooms with a soft blush on emerging buds
• Flowering Period: Early summer to frost
• Foliage: Narrow green leaves; reddish tints may appear on stems and new growth
• Sunlight Requirements: Full sun
• Soil Requirements: Well-drained, sandy or average soil; drought-tolerant once established

Uses and Benefits: Gaura 'Sparkle White' is ideal for bringing light and softness to sunny beds, borders, and containers. Its gentle sway and long-lasting flowers add movement and contrast to bold plantings, while its compact size makes it perfect for smaller spaces or massed along pathways. A favourite of bees and butterflies, this variety also offers excellent drought and heat tolerance, thriving where many other perennials struggle.

Companion Plants: Pair Gaura 'Sparkle White' with Salvia 'Caradonna', whose dark purple spikes stand in vivid contrast to Gaura’s pure white blooms. Add Achillea 'Peter Cottontail', whose white, button-like flowers echo the airy form and colour while providing pollinator appeal. Finish the design with Festuca 'Cool As Ice', whose blue-toned foliage offers a cool, textural base that complements Gaura’s light, fluttering presence.

Care Instructions: Plant in full sun with well-drained soil. Water regularly during establishment, then reduce frequency as the plant becomes drought-tolerant. Deadheading is optional—plants often bloom continuously without it. Cut back in early spring to encourage dense, fresh growth. Avoid rich or overly moist soils, which can reduce flowering or cause legginess.

History: Gaura 'Sparkle White' is a refined selection from Gaura lindheimeri, a prairie native prized for its stamina and graceful habit. Bred for improved compactness, early blooming, and pure flower colour, this cultivar retains all the wild beauty of its ancestors with enhanced garden performance and a longer flowering season.

Final Thoughts: Radiant and weightless, Gaura 'Sparkle White' brings a soft glow to every corner of the garden. With its continuous bloom, gentle movement, and serene colour, it adds an air of elegance and ease to sunny landscapes. Whether weaving through a wild border or brightening a contemporary container, it truly lives up to its name—a perennial that sparkles with grace and resilience.