That looks fine. Although they are quite deep rooted, and not really suitable for division, you can in future take some of the more thicker stems near the root area and take cuttings there. They tend to grow more stronger and faster when you do that.
I bought my Gaura Belleza last year and have it in a pot. lovely plant that flowered for a long time and very late. The second picture shows that it all looks dead now. Should I cut it right back now?
They're a nice plant, aren't they - I haven't seen them very often (admittedly I hardly ever go in garden centres). I've had my Gaura for many years now - always cutting back the old dead stems sometime before new growth starts from the base. No new shoots visible yet on mine (near Cambridge), or on the smaller ones I raised from cuttings in previous years.
I see some photos earlier in the thread (from 2019) where someone had chopped off the newly developing stems as well as the old dead stuff - not a good idea, but I imagine it recovered and grew some more.
I found it very easy from cuttings of the new growing stems - I probably rooted them in water. It's a lot more difficult to root later in the season when all you've really got is flowering stems.
Definitely a lovely plant and all the advice on propagation I will definitely use.
Does anyone have advice on where best to put them in the garden? I live in Milton Keynes and have North, East and South facing borders. Thanks for all the pruning advice
Gaura doesn't care about soil acidity or alkalinity but it does need good drainage and full sun with shelter in winter from cold winds from the north and east.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
That's gaura lindheimeri 'Whirling Butterflies', I have some too and was just looking for how to prune it. Mine has new leaves emerging on some of last summer's long stems but the other stems are brown and unpromising, so I'm pruning the latter and keeping the former. It might be rather early in the season to decide about this, though, especially as it's been so cold lately.
I do that with some plants but those with slightly fleshy stems (like pelargonium) do best and I don't risk it in cold weather. Some (eg persicaria 'Red Dragon') will only root when in active growth, so midsummer is best. Did you root those cuttings at any particular time of year?
Posts
lovely plant that flowered for a long time and very late.
The second picture shows that it all looks dead now.
Should I cut it right back now?
I'd go hard to a couple of inches.
I live in Milton Keynes and have North, East and South facing borders.
Thanks for all the pruning advice
Mine has new leaves emerging on some of last summer's long stems but the other stems are brown and unpromising, so I'm pruning the latter and keeping the former. It might be rather early in the season to decide about this, though, especially as it's been so cold lately.
Did you root those cuttings at any particular time of year?