Yes, do gaura plants spread is a soft yes with one big note. Gaura spreads by seed, not by runners or root growth. The clump itself stays tight in one spot. But seeds drop and sprout far away from the parent plant. This makes spread easy to control if you stay on top of it.
I found my first volunteer seedlings in year two of growing gaura. They were 6 feet (1.8 m) away from the parent plant on the other side of my path. I had not planted them. The wind and ants had moved the seeds. That moment taught me that gaura spreads more than the catalogs let on.
Gaura self seeding is the only way the plant spreads in your garden. The roots stay in a tight ball near the crown. They do not push out rhizomes like mint or bamboo. The clump grows wider by a few inches per year at most. Mature plants stay in their spot for life.
Seeds form in long pods after each flower fades on the wand. The pods dry, split, and drop seeds from late summer through fall. USGS data shows gaura makes about 390,000 seeds per pound of seed weight. That number tells you why some growers find new plants all over their yard.
In warm zones, gaura can become a bit of a pest if you let it. The plant has been called weedy in zones 8 through 10. Cool zone gardeners rarely see this issue. Cold winters kill many young seedlings before they can take hold and grow into mature plants.
The gaura growth habit stays tame for most growers. Each clump grows about 24 to 30 inches (60 to 75 cm) wide at full size. The plant reaches that width in about three years. From there it just gets a bit bigger each year. Old crowns may split into two over five or more years.
If you want to use gaura naturalize style through your borders, you can let the plant do its thing. Stop deadheading by August 1 to let seeds form on the late wands. Wind and rain will scatter them all over your garden. By next spring you may have 10 to 20 new seedlings in fresh spots.
For gaura spread control, deadhead every spent wand from June through September. Cut the wand back to the next side shoot below the spent flowers. This blocks seed set and keeps your plant in one tidy clump. You can also pull young seedlings each spring before they take hold.
When I want to move a volunteer, I dig it in early spring before the 6 inch (15 cm) taproot grows too deep. Young plants under one year old transplant well. Older seedlings have a tough taproot that breaks during digging. Move them young or leave them where they grew on their own.
Mix your control style with your garden goals. Cottage gardens look great with random gaura volunteers popping up. Formal beds need tight control with regular deadheading. Pick one style and stick with it for the best long term look in your space.
Watch for seedlings in unwanted spots like your lawn or paths. Pull them while small to avoid trouble later. A few minutes of weeding each spring keeps your gaura where you want it. Your plant will thank you with strong bloom for years to come.
Read the full article: Gaura Plant Growing Guide
