Plant it in very well drained, lean soil and don't cut it back in the fall. Cut stems draw moisture into the crown, and gauras, like the western Agastaches, can't tolerate much winter moisture when they're dormant. Even then, it may not overwinter.

I have tried 2-3 times now and not have gotten any Gaura to overwinter. My garden is too moist in winter: I am sure that is the reason.

After planting Guara three summers in a row I FINALLY!!!! had one of the three plants come back this spring. I am so excited! I don't have any idea of why it came back this year and why only one plant came back but I am celebrating because I love how they bloom all summer long and I love the way they look in my garden.

I'm so glad I read this post, I was about to purchase Gaura lindheimeri 'Whirling Butterflies', I guess I won't bother now, I have a lot of moisure in my area during the winter. It's too bad, I really wanted this for garden too!

While doing spring clean-up I got a nice surprise--this plant has made it through the winter. I don't want to sound like a pessimistic person, but I really had no expectation that this plant would make it through winter--what a nice thing to see after such a cold winter!