Gypsophila

( jip - SOFF - ill - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus is comprised of species of annual and perennial flowering plants that need full sun and moderate water to perform well. This genus includes the species known in the floral industry as Baby's Breath; these plants are grown for their profuse small summer blooms that emerge in shades of white or pink. They can be either upright or spreading in their habit and leaves are typically blue-green. Baby's Breath is great for borders and when grown as part of cut flower gardens for use in dried or fresh bouquets. Dwarf varieties are great for rock gardens and as spiller plants.

Gypsophila Species and Varietals

The genus Gypsophila includes about 150 species and is a member of the plant family Caryophyllaceae. The genus is named Gypsophila growing zones vary depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Gypsophila cerastoides (Alpine Baby's Breath, Himalayan Baby's Breath)
This perennial is best in USDA hardiness zones 3-9 or Sunset growing zones 2-10 and 14-21, and is native to the Himalayas. It forms a gray mat of foliage 3 inches high and twice as wide and flowers bloom in clusters of pink-veined white or pure pink. Great for rock gardens and between stepping stones.

Gypsophila elegans (Annual Baby's Breath, Showy Baby's Breath)
This annual is native to Asia Minor, the Caucuses and southern Ukraine and grows well in USDA hardiness zones 3-10 or Sunset growing zones 1-24. It has an upright habit and grows to 1.5 feet tall and just as wide. Leaves are fleshy and flowers are white.

'Carminea'
With carmine-red blooms.

'Covent Garden'
To 2 feet tall with large, pure white fragrant blooms.

'Grandiflora Alba'
Larger flowers than the species.

Gypsophila paniculata (Baby's Breath, Common Gypsophila, Panicled Baby's Breath)
This perennial is best in USDA hardiness zones 3-9 or Sunset growing zones A2, A3, 1-10, 14-16, 18-21 and H1. These plants are native to central Asia and central and eastern Europe. This is a classic filler for bouquets and is widely grown. White flowers are held in sprays. This species is considered a highly invasive perennial plant in Michigan, California, Washington, and southern Canada. Varieties are outlined below.

'Bristol Fairy'
4 foot tall billowing plant, flowers are double blooms.

'Compacta Plena'
This plant grows to 1.5 feet tall and has white flowers.

'Million Stars'
Popular for wedding bouquets, with double white flowers on strong stems.

'My Pink'
With pink flowers.

'Viette's Dwarf'
12-15 inches tall with pink flowers.

'Perfekta'
Larger flowers than the species.

'Pink Fairy'
1.5 feet tall with pink flowers.

'Xlence'
White flowered commercially grown variety.

Gypsophila repens (Alpine Gypsophila, Creeping Baby's Breath, Alpine Baby's Breath)
This perennial is native to Alpine regions and grows best in USDA hardiness zones 3-9 or Sunset growing zones 1-11 and 14-16 and 18-21. It has trailing stems and pink flowers. Variety 'Alba' has white flowers and 'Rosea' has pink flowers. These plants form mats, and do well in rock gardens and as groundcover.

Gypsophila vaccaria (Vaccaria hispanica) (Cowherb, Cowcockle, Cow Basil, Cow Soapwort, Prairie Carnation)
This species is native to Portugal, Morocco, and the Himalayas, and is an annual herbaceous plant. Foliage is blue-grey and flowers are pale pink. Individual plants reach up to between 8 and 40 inches tall when in bloom. This species is considered invasive in North America, South America, Australia, and Japan.

Caring for Gypsophila

Gypsophila, or Baby's Breath, can be purchased as specimens or starts at reputable nurseries, and are also grown from seed in the garden. They perform best when planted in full sun; ideally, they should get between 6 and 8 hours of direct sun each day. If grown in too much shade, stems tend to become leggy or floppy, and flowers will not bloom as profusely. Taller varieties cultivated for cut flowers should be netted for best results. These flowers prefer to be planted in soil that is well-draining and moderately fertile with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Add a 1-2 inch layer of mulch to the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain soil temperatures, and increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system. At maturity, Baby's Breath flowers are considered to be somewhat drought-tolerant, able to get by on rainwater alone for most of the year. In times of extended drought, provide supplemental irrigation.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with a application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Deadhead flowers as they fade to improve the appearance of the plant, discourage free re-seeding, and encourage more blooms to emerge. After the main flowering period has passed, prune lightly for shape, and after the second bloom has faded in fall, cut stems back to about an inch above the ground. The plant (if a perennial) will come back the following springtime with new foliage and flowers. Gypsophila species can be annual or perennial; annual species are pulled and composted at the end of the growing season and regrown in the next, and perennial species can last for between 3 and 10 years before needing to be replaced.

Harvesting Gypsophila
Gypsophila, or Baby's Breath, are a classic cut flower. They have long, delicate stems and tiny blooms, and are in bloom in summer and fall (between June and October). They combine well with many different types of flowers in fresh arrangements, adding volume, height, and an airy texture. Harvest flowers when between 2/3 and 3/4 of the blooms on a spray are open, but before all are fully open and begin to fade. The best time to harvest is in the early morning or late evening when temperatures are at their coolest. Cut flower stems at their base using sharp, clean shears or snips, remove the lower leaves from the stem, and drop them in a bucket of cool water. The vase life of Baby's Breath fresh cut flowers is 7-14 days.

These flowers can also be used in dried flower arrangements. Harvest flower stems that have fully opened. Using sharp, clean shears, cut the flowering stem towards the base of the plant. Do not drop in water; instead, bundle harvested flower stems together and hang them upside-down in a cool, dark, dry area with good ventilation. Lower foliage can be removed from stems to combat moisture buildup and mold. Once dried (which typically takes 5-10 days), lightly spray them with an unscented hairspray to prevent the tiny, delicate flowers from shattering and shedding, and then add to dried arrangements with other foliage and flowers.

Propagation

Gypsophila can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Gypsophila, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Gypsophila by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 4-5 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Gypsophila by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed pods are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 10-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.