Gaura lindheimeri gambit rose bicolor

‘Gambit Rose Bicolor’ is a short, tidy form of the old beeblossom. It makes a neat mound of lance-shaped green leaves, flushed purple when young, with upright reddish stems carrying a long succession of two-tone flowers from early summer right into autumn.

The buds open red and flare out into starry white flowers rimmed with deep pink, so you get both colours on the plant at once. Height stays around 50cm, which is a big plus over the floppier old forms.

Plant in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil. It copes with drier spots and part shade too, though it flowers best with plenty of light. Remove spent flowering stalks to keep it looking fresh, and cut back hard in early spring.

The bees find them before we’ve even finished planting. Brilliant in pots, a sunny border, or weaved through grasses.