Gypsophila

( jip - SOFF - ill - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus is comprised of annual and perennial flowering plants that need full sun and moderate water to perform well. This genus includes the species known commonly as Baby's Breath, and all plants are grown for their profuse small summer blooms that emerge in shades of white or pink. The plants themselves 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
This perennial is best in 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 grow best in zones 1-24. Has an upright habit and grows to 1.5 feet tall and just as wide. Leaves are quite fleshy and flowers are white (pink and rose forms are also sold). These plants live only five to six weeks and then die off.
Gypsophila paniculata (Baby's Breath, Common Gypsophila, Panicled Baby's Breath)
This perennial is best in 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. 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. 
'Perfekta'
Larger flowers than the species. 
'Pink Fairy'
1.5 feet tall with pink flowers. 
'Viette's Dwarf'
12-15 inches tall with pink flowers. 

​Gypsophila repens (Alpine Gypsophila, Creeping Baby's Breath)
This perennial is native to Alpine regions and grows best in 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.

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.

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. They 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 irrigations.

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 entire plant will come back the following springtime with new 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
  1. 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. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) peat moss and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
  2. 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.
  3. 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. 
  4. 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
  1. 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. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) peat moss and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows. 
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
Baby's Breath flowers fade to reveal seed heads that contain small dark seeds.
Gypsophila seeds are small and dark brown to brown in color.

Problems and Pests

Gypsophila plants can have issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape:
  • Gophers
  • Snails and Slugs
​For more information on these pests and diseases, including how to treat and prevent them, consult the following pages:
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Gallery

Here, a mixed bed features a large Gypsophila plant alongside Snapdragon, Petunia, and Marigold.
Baby's Breath plants can be grown either in the ground or in containers.
There are pink and white flowering varieties of Baby's Breath.

Videos

How to grow these flowers in your garden.
Learn how to make a Gypsophila bracelet.

Resources

How to Grow and Care for Baby's Breath
Gypsophila Growing Guide
How to Grow Baby's Breath: The Complete Baby's Breath Flower Guide
How to Grow Gypsophila (Baby's Breath)
​Wikipedia: Gypsophila
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 349 - 350, Gypsophila
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