Gaura ‘Sparkle White’ won both an AAS award and a 2014 Fleuroselect Gold Medal, so I was expecting great things from the plants I sprouted from seed over winter and planted in my flowerbeds in May.
‘Sparkle White’ is a perennial that’s hardy in Zones 6-9, but it can also be grown as an annual in colder zones because it flowers the first year from seed. I had excellent germination from the seeds, and the seedlings were easy to care for and well-behaved. I like the dainty, white flowers and the way they almost float above the neighboring plants:
However, there just wasn’t enough flower power for me. I grouped 4 or 5 ‘Sparkle White’ plants together in different flowerbeds, but they just didn’t stand out much among their neighbors.
‘Sparkle White’ grows 10-24 inches tall in full sun or partial-sun. It’s promoted as a long-season bloomer, but I was already deadheading my plants after about a month of flowering, and I still haven’t seen any repeat blooms.
Perhaps in areas where it can be grown as a perennial it would really take off and flower like crazy in the second year, but as an annual ‘Sparkle White’ just didn’t impress me.