Gaura throws up tall, airy spikes of dark pink flowers from early summer straight through frost, a constant flutter of blooms on wiry stems. Plant it where you need vertical interest without weight—it reads like a veil of color rather than a solid mass.

Full sun and lean soil suit it fine; once established, it handles heat and drought with barely a glance back. Space it where air moves freely around the stems to keep powdery mildew at bay.