Gaura lindheimeri

(Butterfly Bush)

Gaura lindheimeri was declared a noxious weed (Class 5) in NSW on the 1 March 2006. However, due to what can only be referred to as ‘communication breakdown’, the nursery industry was left with a lot of stock, so a furor erupted. After considerable government lobbying, the industry was granted a reprieve. Nurseries in NSW will be allowed to continue selling Gaura (and four other banned plants) until 30 November 2006.

Gaura is also environmental weed in many areas of Australia, including Western Australia and South Australia. It’s not known to have naturalized in Victoria, but considering it self-seeds prolifically in many home gardens, this is surprising.

It’s a popular herbaceous perennial (dies down over winter) that’s often used in cottage garden style plantings. It has long wispy stems covered in dainty white or pink flowers. There are many cultivars, which all self-seed. To prevent self-seeding it’s important to cut the plant right back after flowering.

Gaura lindheimeri comes from the Texas prairie, so it’s most suited to our climate because it’s extremely drought tolerant.

In NSW, Gaura is a Class 5 noxious weed (on reprieve!). A Class 5 weed outbreak is termed ‘notifiable’, which means it must be reported. One of the control methods is to prevent the introduction of those plants into NSW, or the spread of those plants within NSW, or into another State.

By law, noxious weeds must be removed from private and public land and destroyed.

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/noxweed

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