Gaura biennis Seeds (Biennial Gaura) AKA Biennial Beeblossom-Pink/White Flowers

Biennial Gaura
Gaura biennis
Evening Primrose family (Onagraceae)

Description: During the first year, this plant develops a rosette of basal leaves. During the second year, this biennial plant bolts to become 3-7' tall at maturity, branching above. The stems are light green, angular or terete, and moderately to densely covered with spreading white hairs. Alternate leaves occur along these stems that have ascending blades; they are sessile or short-petiolate. The leaf blades are up to 7" long and 1" across, although they are usually about one-half of the maximum size. The leaves are narrowly lanceolate or elliptic in shape, while their margins are entire (toothless) or slightly dentate. The leaf surfaces are yellowish green or medium green and glabrous to slightly pubescent (usually becoming more glabrous with age). However, during the autumn, the leaves often become reddish in response to cold weather. The upper stems terminate in open panicles of floral spikes that are up to 2½' long and across. In each spike, the sessile flowers bloom gradually from the bottom to the top with flower buds above and developing seed capsules below.

Flowers & Buds

Each flower is about ½" long and across, consisting of 4 white to pink petals, a narrow calyx tube with 4 green to red sepals at its apex, 8 long-exserted stamens, and an inferior ovary with a long-exserted style. The petals are oblanceolate in shape, tapering to narrow clawed bases; they are arranged in a semi-circle above the reproductive organs. The sepals are linear-lanceolate, short-pubescent, and strongly recurved or deflexed (bent downward or away from the petals). The stamens have white filaments and slender yellow anthers. The slender style is white; it has a 4-lobed stigma at its apex. The branches of the inflorescence are light green or reddish green, angular or terete, and short-pubescent. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to mid-autumn, lasting about 1-2 months. The flowers are replaced by seed capsules that are 6-8 mm. long, fusiform (spindle-shaped), slightly 4-ribbed, and short-pubescent. Each capsule contains a few seeds.

Cultivation: This biennial plant prefers full sunlight and more or less mesic conditions. It tolerates many kinds of soil, include those that contain loam, clay, gravel, or sand.
Sow Gaura seeds in starter trays using sterile potting soil. Gently press the flower seeds into the soil, and barely cover with lose soil. Keep the flower seeds moist until germination. When ready to transplant, cut the Gaura seedlings back to help it grow more compact. A second cutting back 4 weeks later is often needed again to keep the plant more compact in growth.
Flower Specifications
Season: Perennial
USDA Zones: 5 - 8
Height: 32 inches
Bloom Season: White and pink
Bloom Color: Summer and fall
Environment: Full sun to partial shade
Soil Type: Well-drained, pH 5.5 - 7.2
Deer Resistant: Yes
Planting Directions
Temperature: 68F
Average Germ Time: 14 - 21 days
Light Required: Yes
Depth: Seeds must be covered thinly, no more than the thickness of the seed
Sowing Rate: 2 - 3 seeds per plant
Moisture: Keep seeds moist until germination
Plant Spacing: 30 inches