Gaura lindheimer
also known as Whirling Butterflies
Wandflowers: The Airiest Blooms in the Garden
If you’ve ever wanted a plant that looks like it’s dancing on air, wandflowers — also known as gaura or whirling butterflies — might be your new favorite perennial. With their slender stems and fluttering four‑petaled blossoms, they bring a sense of movement that few plants can match. Even the slightest breeze sends their blooms shimmering like tiny butterflies.
What makes wandflowers especially lovable is how tough they are. These North American natives thrive in heat, tolerate drought, and actually prefer lean, sandy soil. Give them full sun and good drainage, and they’ll reward you with blooms from early summer straight into fall.
Gardeners often use wandflowers to soften borders, fill gaps between sturdier perennials, or add a wild, naturalistic feel to cottage gardens. Their airy form weaves beautifully among grasses, salvias, and other sun‑loving companions. Pollinators adore them too — bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds stop by for a sip.
If you’re looking for a plant that’s graceful, low‑maintenance, and generous with its flowers, wandflowers are an easy yes. They don’t demand much, but they give your garden a sense of life and motion that’s hard to beat.