Gypsophila paniculata (Baby's Breath) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (2024)

FAQs

Do Gypsophila come back every year? ›

Gypsophila, a breath of flowers

Gypsophila is a very cute perennial or annual that blooms in summer.

Suitable for well-drained soil in a sunny position. Gypsophila Fairy Perfect is a perfectly delicate arrangement of tiny flowers that form in a cloud of pretty blooms. Although ideal for cut flowers and bouquets, Gypsophila is also a fantastic flower for your garden pots or borders and even great as dried flower.

Growing Baby's Breath is very easy, and they are quick to bloom. It is a popular flower to accent bouquets, corsages and flower vases. It also makes a great filler for at-home gardens. These plants bear an abundance of white or pink flowers.

Gypsophilas are ideal for cottage gardens, white gardens, gravel gardens and, of course, cutting gardens – just give them plenty of sunshine and room to spread. Around five stems are perfect for a good display in a bouquet or vase and the blooms should last at least seven days in water.

Superb as a ground cover for rockeries, paved areas or for use in alpine containers. Temperature Tolerance: A hardy plant which should survive normal winter conditions outside, especially if protected from the hardest frosts.

Baby's breath is a perennial; new plants come up every year from the same root system. It spreads via seeds, not a spreading root system, but one plant can produce well over 10,000 seeds. Plants become brittle, break and roll like tumbleweeds, spreading seeds.

This perennial plant is easy to grow and low maintenance. Read on for more tips on how to plant Gypsophila, or baby's breath.

Baby's breath prefers full sun, so pick a spot that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. 2. Prepare the soil. In terms of soil, baby's breath will do best in well-draining soil a little on the sandy side, with plenty of organic matter and a pH between 7.0 to 7.5.

They grow rapidly and will come into bloom about 8 weeks after germination. Sow new baby's breath every 2 to 4 weeks to assure continuous bloom for the summer.

Does baby's breath need full sun? ›

This plant does need full sun and will tend to flop if it has too much shade. It also may benefit from staking. My soil doesn't drain well, can I plant baby's breath? Baby's breath is susceptible to root rot in poorly drained soil, especially over the winter.

Baby's Breath can be prone to ants. Unless you are cutting the blooms to bring them indoors, the ants don't cause much of an issue. If the pests bother you, simply pick off by hand or use a gentle homemade pest repellent such as a mix of dish soap and water.

There is also a group of plants which we can call “slug and snail safe” - these plants neither deter our enemies but they do not attract them either: Dianthus. Paeonia. Gypsophila.

What is Gypsophila? Gypsophila (Gypsophila paniculata) also known as Baby's Breath is a hardy perennial herb. It is part of the Caryophyllaceae or carnation family and is native to Europe. It produces masses of small white or pink blooms on tall stems throughout Summer and Autumn.

Gypsophila is an extremely popular filler for bridal bouquets. If you notice that the Gyp smells a bit, just add a teaspoon of salt and the smell will vanish.

Baby's breath has low water needs and thrives in dry soil. Keep the soil moderately moist for young plants.

Once the second blooming is finished, you can cut the plants way back. Trim all the stems down to about an inch (2.5 cm.) above the ground. If your variety is perennial, you should see healthy new growth in the spring.

Gysophila are best planted in well-drained soil of loam, sand and chalk within a neutral or alkaline PH balance. Gysophila are best positioned in an area of full sun.

Baby's breath is a perennial that reproduces by seed only. It is native to Eastern Europe & western Asia and was likely introduced as an ornamental. It develops deep tap root that can extend to 4m1 allowing it to access deeper groundwater during periods of drought.

How Long Does Baby's Breath Last For? There are many varieties of baby's breath and while some of the tiny blooms may die off rather quickly, most will last anywhere from 5 days to up to 10 days. Proper care and handling of these delicate flowers will lengthen their lifespan.

Is Baby's Breath poisonous? ›

This plant has medium severity poison characteristics. This perennial form of baby's breath is cultivated as a garden ornamental or used by florists for fillers in bouquets, particularly with roses.

Baby's breath is relatively low maintenance, growing quickly and flowering in just 10 weeks.

The annual forms are fast growers and if open-sown around April should flower from June onwards. Perennial forms are deep-rooted, long-lived plants, that need plenty of sun and space to spread. Gypsophila can be grown in an east, west or south facing aspect, in free-draining soil.

Toxic to both cats and dogs are Tulips, Azalea, Bird of Paradise, Aloe, Begonias, Baby's Breath, and Amaryllis.

With centerpieces, you could be working with small mason jars that need 6-8 stems, or huge glass vases that need 25-30 stems. At the minimum, you're looking at 3-4 dozens of flower bunches (or more if you have a larger venue and more intricate arrangements in mind).

The Good: Baby's breath is an inexpensive and affordable option for bridesmaids' bouquets or centerpieces. It's extremely hardy and has a long lifetime. This flower also offers a light, alluring and sweet look.

Remove any foliage that still remains the following spring. This is usually very minimal. WHAT ARE SOME NICE COMPANION PLANTS? Peonies, monarda, digitalis, delphinium, scabiosa, campanula, dianthus, and hardy geranium make nice companions.

While some like the scent, others complain that it is called baby's breath because it smells like spit. This is really a personal matter. Some like it, some don't, which is undoubtedly the case with most flowers. Just be sure that you take a whiff before you have multiple centerpieces and bouquets put together.

Baby's breath cold tolerance is pretty good, both in perennial and annual form. The annual varieties grow in zones 2 through 10, while the perennials will survive in zones 3 through 9. The annuals, of course, will not need to be overwintered.

Starting Baby's Breath Seeds Indoors

Sow annual baby's breath inside 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Perennials should be started 8-10 weeks before transplanting (which can be done in either early spring or early fall).

Is baby's breath toxic to cats? ›

BABY'S BREATH

Only mildly toxic, ingestion can still lead to vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, and lethargy in your cat.

Garden Use

Ideal for perennial borders and popular as a cut flower, baby's breath is famously drought resistant and salt tolerant. As for wildlife, it attracts pollinating insects, but not deer.

Gypsophila (also known as Baby's Breath) - mildly toxic, but can irritate a pet's stomach if ingested.

Gypsophila or Baby's Breath.

(Then they come back and ask me for other ideas!!!) Despite the fairy tale romance and 'frothiness' gyp offers, it's toxic if eaten. It can also irritate your nose and cause asthma.

Gypsophila 'Summer Sparkles' is known for attracting bees. It has nectar/pollen rich flowers.

Once the pieces from the one stem of baby's breath is bunched together, you can see that a little goes a long way. That one stem could be enough for a mason jar centerpiece. If you want a more full arrangement, you will need 2 stems. For a full bouquet, 5-7 stems.

The most common causes of halitosis in kids are poor oral hygiene, cavities and gingivitis. Bad breath can also be due to smelly foods, mouth breathing, loose dental restorations, dry mouth, infections in the mouth, ears, nose or throat, and certain health conditions and medications.

Irrigate the Baby's Breath

Water baby's breath with a deep soaking every two or three weeks. The plant will tolerate somewhat dry soil and does well in drought conditions.

G. paniculata, aka common or panicled baby's breath, is a tall perennial that grows a 13-feet-long storage taproot. Small white or pink flowers bloom from the summer to fall, and this species is the favorite among florists.

Baby's breath is one of several types of Gypsophila, a genus of plants in the carnation family. Within the genus are several baby's breath cultivars, all with long, straight stems and masses of dainty, long-lasting blooms. Baby's breath varieties are easy to plant by seed directly in the garden.

Does baby's breath need to be in water? ›

Baby's breath has low water needs and thrives in dry soil. Keep the soil moderately moist for young plants.

This perennial plant is easy to grow and low maintenance. Read on for more tips on how to plant Gypsophila, or baby's breath.

How Long Does Baby's Breath Last For? There are many varieties of baby's breath and while some of the tiny blooms may die off rather quickly, most will last anywhere from 5 days to up to 10 days. Proper care and handling of these delicate flowers will lengthen their lifespan.

Water thoroughly at least once a week to help new roots grow down deeply. Soil should be damp at about 1 inch below the soil surface. You can check this by sticking your finger in the soil. Water early in the morning to give all leaves enough time to dry.

When to Plant Baby's Breath. Plant baby's breath (whether from seeds, cuttings, or established plants) in late spring or early summer, just after the last frost date in your area.

Baby's breath is relatively low maintenance, growing quickly and flowering in just 10 weeks.

When Baby's breath invades grazing land, it reduces native grasses and forage for grazing animals and wildlife. When it develops seeds and matures, the plant breaks off at the ground and rolls long distances across the landscape with the ability to spread the over 10,000 seeds per plant!