Stratosphere White Butterfly Flower

Stratosphere White is a compact gaura selection with white, four-petaled flowers carried above narrow, upright foliage. Its open flower wands add light movement to sunny borders and containers, and the plant remains small enough for edging or repeated mass planting. ## Growth and seasonal display The formal selection name is 'Gautalwhi'; the trade name is Stratosphere White. Proven Winners lists a mature height of 12–24 inches and spread of 8–14 inches, with white flowers through summer. The cultivar is commonly sold as a tender perennial or annual outside its recommended range. See the [Proven Winners plant profile](https://serv3.provenwinners.com/plants/oenothera/stratosphere-white-butterfly-flower-oenothera-lindheimeri) and the [RHS record for Gautalwhi](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/386733/oenothera-lindheimeri-stratosphere-white-gautalwhi-g/details). ## Siting Give it part sun to full sun and a well-drained bed or container. The light stems pair well with grasses and sturdier perennials that soften their movement without crowding the compact crown. Proven Winners gives USDA zones 6–10; local winter survival can still vary with drainage and exposure. ## Maintenance Water new plants while they establish, then avoid keeping the root zone wet. The taprooted plant tolerates heat and some drought, although good drainage remains important. Remove or shear old flower stems in midsummer if a tidier outline or a fresh flush is wanted; regular deadheading is not required for continued flowering. The Missouri Botanical Garden notes that the cultivar does not come true from seed and records U.S. Plant Patent PP16,565, issued May 23, 2006 ([Plant Finder](https://plantfinder.mobot.org/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?cv=5&isprofile=0&taxonid=267191)).