The new name for gaura is Oenothera lindheimeri. Plant scientists moved gaura into the Oenothera genus in the early 2000s. The old genus name Gaura was dropped. Most nurseries still use the old name on tags. You will see both names on plants for sale today.
I once stood at a garden store and saw the same plant tagged two ways. One pot said Gaura lindheimeri Whirling Butterflies. The pot next to it said Oenothera lindheimeri Whirling Butterflies. They were the same plant from the same grower. The tag change had not made it through the whole shipment.
Oenothera lindheimeri is the current accepted name in plant science. The full name pays tribute to Ferdinand Lindheimer. He was a German botanist who studied Texas plants in the 1840s. He sent gaura seeds back to Europe for the first time. The species name has stuck for over 180 years.
The gaura reclassification came from DNA work on this plant family. Scientists found that gaura shared more DNA with Oenothera than old name groups had shown. The two were too close to stand apart. The merge made the family tree more clear.
Wisconsin Extension and NC State Extension both list the new name as the accepted one. Both still note the old name for buyers who know gaura by its old tag. The Greek root gauros means superb or proud. It hints at the tall, dancing wands that gave the plant its old name.
Old Name Era 1830s to 2000
- Genus: Gaura was set as its own group in 1818 based on flower shape and stem habit.
- Species: Gaura lindheimeri was named after the German botanist who sent seeds to Europe.
- Use: Trade names and books all used the genus Gaura through the late 20th century.
DNA Studies 2000 to 2007
- Method: Plant scientists used DNA tests to map the evening primrose family more clearly.
- Finding: Gaura species shared more DNA with Oenothera than the old groups had shown.
- Result: The genus Gaura was merged into Oenothera based on the new genetic data.
New Name 2007 to Today
- Genus: Oenothera became the accepted name for all former Gaura species and types.
- Adoption: Scientific papers and major extensions switched to the new name within five years.
- Trade lag: Nurseries and garden books still use both names side by side on tags and pages.
When you search for plants online, try both names to find the most choices. Search Gaura lindheimeri first to catch all the older catalog entries. Then search Oenothera lindheimeri to find newer suppliers and updated trade lists. You will find more cultivars by using both terms in your hunt.
The common name gaura will stick around for decades to come. Gardeners do not switch common names just because the science changes. The word gaura rolls off the tongue. The word Oenothera does not. Most home growers will keep saying gaura long after the tags catch up.
The gaura botanical name matters most when you order from a strict scientific source. University trial gardens and rare plant clubs use the new name only. Big box stores and small nurseries use the old name almost all the time. Match your name to your shop type for the best result.
Look for both names in plant tags, books, and online stores. The gaura scientific name Oenothera lindheimeri shows up more in new books from 2010 on. Older guides from before 2000 stick with Gaura. Check the book date if the name choice matters for your study or work.
In my experience, the staff at small nurseries still call this plant gaura by default. I asked at three local shops last spring. None of them used the new genus name in talk. All three knew the change had been made. They just stuck with the old word for ease.
When I write plant labels for my own garden, I list both names on the tag. The new name goes first in small print. The old common name goes below in larger print. This way I honor the science while keeping the tag easy to read for my guests.
Other plants in the old Gaura group also moved to the new name. The scarlet kind shifted over. The biennial type made the move too. The whole group changed together at once. If you grow other former Gaura plants, look for the same change on their tags.
Do not let the name change throw you off. Your plant is the same as it ever was. The flowers, the leaves, the care needs all stay the same. Only the name on the science chart has shifted. Your garden does not care which name you use as long as you keep the plant happy.
Read the full article: Gaura Plant Growing Guide
