Native Plants
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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
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Monday - May 14, 2007
From: Childress, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Wildflowers
Title: Gaura coccinea for xeric garden
Answered by: Damon Waitt
QUESTION:
Is Scarlet Gaura (Gaura coccinea) a good plant for a small xeric garden? How invasive is it?ANSWER:
Gaura coccinea (scarlet beeblossom) is a 1-2 ft., colongy-forming perennial with several stems, branched near base. The stems and narrowly oblong leaves may or may not be covered with gray hairs. Honeysuckle-like flowers occur on a spike-like inflorescence, 1-12 in. long, which blooms from the bottom to top. The leafy stems of this grayish plant are branched, grow in clumps, and bear at the tips reddish-pink, nodding racemes. Only one ring of the flowers are in bloom at a time. The fragrant flowers are white at first, fading to pink and finally scarlet, all in the same day.Scarlet gaura is extremely easy and care-free. While not considered invasive, due to extensive rhizomes, it will form large colonies.
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