Written by Sophie Clarke 
Contents4 sections
The essentials in 30 seconds
The gaura plant (Oenothera lindheimeri) is an airy, long-flowering perennial native to North America[4], with white to pink star-shaped flowers that dance on wiry stems. It belongs to the evening primrose family, Onagraceae, so it is not related to cannabis. Plant it in spring, in full sun and free-draining soil, and it will reward you with movement all summer.
- The Oenothera lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterflies’ cultivar gives beds and pots a drifting, restless look.
- Wet winter soil is the usual reason perennials gaura plants fail, so choose gravel, grit or a raised spot.
- Gaura is an ornamental plant, not a cannabis product: browse Spliff’s CBD and THCX vape range, for adults only.
The gaura plant is an airy, long-flowering perennial with white to pink star-shaped flowers on long, wiry stems. You plant it in spring, once the last frost has passed.
Picture a mobile above the border: four-petalled stars in white, blush or deep pink hover over narrow leaves like confetti caught mid-air. That whirling movement is the whole point. Its habit is medium-small and see-through, so it softens beds and pots without hiding what grows behind.
The double name comes from botany. Labels often read Oenothera lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterflies’, and “PBR” on the tag marks a protected plant variety. Our tip: buy by the botanical name, not the nursery nickname, so you know exactly which plant you’re getting.
So why is a cannabis site talking flowers? Because “plant” searches overlap, and the line is worth drawing clearly.
Our honest take: if you came for effects, gaura won’t give you any. If you came for a border that moves in the slightest breeze, you’re in the right place. Here’s the quick reality check:
- Gaura is not cannabis. It’s an ornamental from a different plant family, grown for looks, not for effects.
- It’s not a forever plant. Think of it as a short-lived perennial, more like a great season-long playlist than a lifetime album.
- Drainage beats feeding. Wet, heavy soil is the classic way to lose it.
“Short-lived” isn’t a flaw, it’s a design choice. Treat gaura like a seasonal accent you refresh every few years, and it rewards you with a long, light flowering run. Below: the soil and pot conditions that decide success, plus the botanical background.
What is the gaura plant (Oenothera lindheimeri)?
The gaura plant belongs to the evening primrose family, Onagraceae, a botanical world away from cannabis, which sits in Cannabaceae. According to Wikipedia’s Gaura entry, “Gaura was a genus of flowering plants in the family Onagraceae, native to North America”[4]. So don’t expect buds or resin: this one is all about flowers and movement.
Our take? If a search for “gaura flowers” landed you here hoping for a new strain, it isn’t one. The overlap is purely about the word “flowers”, nothing more.
Here’s the honest limit, though. Our sources describe gaura as an ornamental, not as a plant with cannabinoids, so we won’t hint at effects nobody has documented. If a seller ever pitches “gaura buds” as a smokable, treat that as a red flag, not a discovery.
Compare that with cannabidiol, where the paperwork actually exists. For Epidyolex, the cannabidiol medicine assessed by the European Medicines Agency, the most common side effects affecting more than 1 in 10 people include somnolence, decreased appetite, diarrhoea, fever, tiredness and vomiting[3]. That’s what “documented” looks like, and gaura has nothing comparable on file.
Why is gaura called ‘whirling butterflies’?
The flowers never sit still. Each bloom rides a stem so thin that the faintest breeze sets it trembling, so a drift of Oenothera lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterflies’ looks like a cloud of tiny wings in flight. The cultivar name simply puts that movement on the tag.
That restlessness is why it shines next to stiffer plants. Perennials like sedum or upright grasses hold the frame, and of all the airy perennials, gaura plants are the ones that bring motion to the view. In pots, give it a solid partner to sway against.
Think of it like a hi-hat in a song: on its own it feels thin, but against a heavy bass line it gives the whole bed rhythm. If you want structure, pick sedum; if you want movement, gaura wins hands down.
One more nuance worth knowing: as a North American native, per the same Wikipedia entry[4], it’s an import to European gardens. That’s why the cultivar name you see on the tag matters more than the old genus label when you’re comparing plants at the garden centre.
When should you plant gaura, and what does it need to thrive?
Spring timing aside, the real question is what a gaura plant needs once it’s in: full sun, free-draining soil and, in containers, a deep pot with drainage holes. Get those three right and the roots settle well before winter. Wet winter soil is what usually kills it.
- Soil: heavy, soggy ground is the classic failure point, so work in grit or choose a raised spot.
- Pots: go deep to respect the long root, and once it’s settled, leave it where it is.
Its growth rate is average, yet it flowers in its first season. Cut back faded stems and it keeps sending up fresh ones.
Does gaura come back each year?
Often, yes: it’s a perennial, so a happy plant regrows from its base. Treat it as a plant that can be short-lived rather than a forever fixture. Soggy, cold soil is the usual reason it doesn’t return.
Where is the best place to plant gaura?
Give it the sunniest, best-drained spot you’ve got: a gravel bed, a raised border edge or a deep container. Leave room for its eventual spread, because those wiry stems need space to sway. In design terms, it works like a sheer curtain near the front of a bed, not a wall at the back.
What to do with gaura over winter?
Keep it dry rather than fussed over. Leave the old stems standing until spring, then cut back to the fresh shoots at the base. In pots, a sheltered spot against a wall and pot feet for drainage go a long way.
Is gaura a cannabis plant?
No. The gaura plant belongs to the evening primrose family, Onagraceae, while cannabis sits in a separate family, Cannabaceae.[4] The two are botanically unrelated. Apart from both being flowering plants, they share no defining traits. Gaura is grown purely as an ornamental perennial for borders, pots and home plant collections.
The mix-up is easy to forgive. A cannabis store’s readers search for plants all the time, and gaura plants sometimes land in the same results.
Spliff’s house rule: we sell these products to adults only (18+). Our standard reminder also applies: For adults only (18+). CBD is not a medicine and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. If in doubt, consult a healthcare professional.
Conclusion: is gaura right for your garden?
Our take: the gaura plant is a brilliant pick if your garden runs dry, sunny and a little neglected. It’s built for gravel beds, sloping borders and roomy containers, where its wiry stems keep dancing all summer with almost no fuss.
If your soil is heavy, clay-rich or stays wet through winter, skip it. Gaura sulks and rots in soggy ground, so you’ll get more joy from a plant that actually likes damp feet.
- Go for it: free-draining soil, full sun, a border you don’t want to babysit.
- Think twice: waterlogged beds, deep shade, or if you want a plant that lasts decades. Gaura is short-lived, so treat it like a summer playlist you refresh every few years, not a permanent fixture.
Search both names and you’ll find a much wider choice of varieties.
And to be clear, gaura is an ornamental, not a cannabis plant. If you came looking for cannabis formats rather than garden plants, the vapes and pods covered above are available on spliffstore.eu.
Sources
- Epidyolex (cannabidiol) â European Medicines Agency, EPAR â www.ema.europa.eu
- Gaura – Wikipedia â en.wikipedia.org
