Snowstorm - Gaura (Gaura lindheimerii)
'Snowstorm' is a vigorous gaura for Minnesota with abundant, continuous pink and white flowers. It flourishes in both cool and warm locations, even in extreme heat and drought. A hardy seedling was selected in 2000 and was crossed with plants gathered on collection trips to Texas, Mexico, California and the Dakotas, resulting in a fragrant, prolific plant. Tough though it may be, 'Snowstorm' is now marketed as an annual and will be used in future breeding efforts toward a truly winter-hardy gaura.
Characteristics:
- Pink and white flowers
- Continuous bloom
- Drought tolerant
- Annual in Minnesota
- Plant size: 2 to 3 feet
Purchase Snowstorm Guara
Snowstorm Gaura is not protected by US Plant Patent or foreign plant breeders' rights, but nurseries propagating this variety can support the U of M breeding program through an agreement with the Minnesota Nursery Research Corporation (MNRC).
The Minnesota Nursery Research Corporation (MNRC) is a non-profit horticultural organization that sponsors scientific research for the commercial growing industry. Since 1957, MNRC has collected voluntary payments from propagators of U of M ornamental and fruit introductions and contributed over $2.5 million to the U of M Department of Horticultural Science. Generous MNRC participants are dedicated to supporting research science and breeding efforts. They believe in the development of cold hardy, disease resistant, prolific and profitable future cultivars and varieties.
If you are a propagator and would like to support the future of the industry by participating in MNRC, please email Pat Bailey, MNRC President, at [email protected].
Commercialization and licensing
Snowstorm Gaura is not protected by US Plant Patent or foreign plant breeders' rights, but nurseries propagating this variety can support the U of M breeding program through an agreement with the Minnesota Nursery Research Corporation (MNRC). The Minnesota Nursery Research Corporation (MNRC) is a non-profit horticultural organization that sponsors scientific research for the commercial growing industry. Since 1957, MNRC has collected voluntary payments from propagators of U of M ornamental and fruit introductions and contributed over $2.5 million to the U of M Department of Horticultural Science. Generous MNRC participants are dedicated to supporting research science and breeding efforts. They believe in the development of cold hardy, disease resistant, prolific and profitable future cultivars and varieties.
If you are a propagator and would like to support the future of the industry by participating in MNRC, please email Doug Danielsen at [email protected].
Meet the researcher
Neil Anderson is a Professor in the University of Minnesota Department of Horticultural Science and J. William Fulbright Scholar. As director of the University's Herbaceous Ornamental Breeding Program, Anderson leads a team of scientists working on breeding new varieties of Chrysanthemum, Lilium, Gladiolus, Iris, Linum, Schoenocaulon, and Gaura.
The breeding program focuses on winter-hardy herbaceous perennials with ornamental value as well as research and development on ornamental plant crops which produce natural compounds useful as green pesticides. Anderson is an internationally recognized expert in plant reproductive biology, invasive species biology, geophytes, rapid generation cycling crops, tissue culture, molecular biology, plant breeding and genetics. His research also assess risk to prevent new invasive species from being introduced into the market and causing future problems.