Despite what you might have heard at the garden center, the Wandflower (Gaura) isn’t 100% winter-hardy. In fact, it usually only survives the winter outdoors if the weather stays relatively mild. If you want your Gaura to come back better than ever next year, a little winter prep goes a long way.
Is the Wandflower really winter-hardy?
Most people treat the Wandflower like a standard hardy perennial, but it’s actually a bit delicate. While it won’t keel over the moment the thermometer hits freezing, things start getting dicey once temperatures drop below 10°F (-12°C). At that point, frost damage becomes a real risk.
How to overwinter your Wandflower
To keep your Gaura safe through the chilly months, you need a solid game plan. Depending on your local climate, you can either prep it to stay in the ground or move it to a cozy indoor spot.
Overwintering outdoors
If you live somewhere with mild winters where it rarely dips below 10°F, your Wandflower can stay right in the garden. However, you’ll still want to give it some extra TLC to help it survive.
First off, it helps if you planted it in a sheltered spot to begin with—like near a house wall or a stone fence that blocks the wind. To keep the roots warm, cover the base of the plant with a thick layer of mulch. This acts like a natural blanket against frost and helps keep moisture levels steady. Great options for mulching include:
- Pine boughs
- Fallen leaves
- Grass clippings
- Other organic garden debris
Moving to winter quarters
If your winters get seriously cold, it’s best to dig up your Wandflowers and move them inside. This is a must for any plants grown in pots, too, since containers don’t have enough soil to insulate the roots against a hard freeze.
Your winter storage spot should be frost-free but still cool and bright. A dry basement with windows, a garage, or a sunroom is perfect. Try to avoid keeping them in heated living areas; if it gets warmer than 40-45°F, the plant might think it’s spring and start growing too early.
Give it a good trim first
Before you tuck your Wandflower in for the winter, you’ll want to prune it back. Don’t just pull off the dead bits—cut the entire plant back significantly. This encourages the Gaura to develop strong buds over the winter, leading to a much bushier, fuller plant when spring finally rolls around.
