Baby's breath

Sun

Full sun, ideally at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.

Water

Water regularly during establishment, letting the soil surface dry between waterings. Established plants tolerate drought; avoid consistently wet soil.

Soil

Well-drained, light or gravelly soil, preferably neutral to alkaline. Heavy clay and winter waterlogging are unsuitable.

Height

2-4 ft (0.6-1.2 m)

Spread

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Flowers

Early to late summer; tiny white flowers, with pink flowers in some cultivars. Flowers may be single or double.

Foliage

Narrow, grey-green leaves on slender, branching stems; dies back in winter.

Growth

Moderate; usually takes two or three growing seasons to form a substantial clump.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Cold hardy
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1 ft (0.3 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

3. After 2 years

   2.3 ft (0.7 m)

4. After 3 years

   3 ft (0.9 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Mildly toxic: may upset a stomach

Invasive in

the US and Canada

In the garden

Spreads vigorously: plan to contain it.

Growth rate

Moderate

• Plant in a sunny, freely drained position, keeping the crown at soil level.
• Water new plants deeply during dry weather; reduce watering once established.
• Avoid rich feeding and heavy applications of compost, which encourage floppy growth.
• Use a light gravel mulch rather than moisture-holding mulch against the crown.
• Fit twiggy supports or a loose support ring in spring if stems tend to flop.
• Leave established clumps undisturbed; their deep roots make division and transplanting difficult.

Pruning. Trim spent flowering stems back to leafy growth after the main display to encourage a lighter second flush. Cut dead stems close to the ground in late autumn or early spring; where seed spread is a concern, remove flower heads before seeds mature.

Early spring

Cut away remaining dead stems and check that the crown is not sitting in wet soil.

Spring

Plant young plants after the soil becomes workable, avoiding waterlogged conditions.

Late spring

Install discreet supports before the branching stems become tall.

Early summer

Water establishing plants during dry spells and check shoots for aphids.

Summer

Cut flowering stems for arrangements when many flowers have opened; trim spent sprays after the main flush.

Late summer

Remove seed heads before they ripen, especially near natural areas.

Late autumn

Cut back dead growth if not left until spring, and clear wet debris away from the crown.

• Thread through sunny rose borders to soften large flowers with fine white sprays.
• Place among upright plants such as salvias and bearded irises for contrasting flower shapes.
• Use in white or pastel borders as a light, airy link between stronger plant forms.
• Grow in a dedicated cutting bed for fresh bouquets and dried arrangements.
• Plant in gravel borders where its grey-green foliage suits the dry setting, provided it is not invasive locally.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, Romantic rose garden, English country, White garden, Pastel border and Dry gravel garden.

Plant it with: Roses, Lavender, Bearded irises, Salvias, Yarrow and Catmint.

Wildlife: Open flowers attract bees, hoverflies and other small pollinating insects. Double-flowered cultivars generally offer less accessible pollen and nectar.

• Crown and root rot in wet soil: improve drainage before planting and avoid watering an established plant while the soil is still moist.
• Flopping stems in shade or rich soil: provide full sun, reduce feeding and install supports early.
• Aphids on young shoots: wash off small colonies with water; use insecticidal soap if necessary, avoiding open flowers.
• Slugs and snails damaging emerging shoots: inspect young growth and use barriers or locally approved iron-based slug bait where needed.

Flowers, leaves and other parts contain saponins. Ingestion can cause mild stomach upset, vomiting or diarrhoea in cats and dogs, and stomach upset in people; sap may irritate sensitive skin. Serious poisoning is uncommon. Toxicity to horses is not well established, so keep it out of feed and grazing areas.

Where it spreads. Spreads aggressively by seed in parts of western North America and the Great Lakes region, particularly in sandy grasslands and dunes. It is listed or managed as an invasive or noxious plant in jurisdictions including Washington, Montana and Michigan in the United States, and British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada. Check local restrictions before planting;

• Annual baby's breath (Gypsophila elegans)

  A shorter-lived annual, usually with larger individual flowers and a less dense, cloud-like display; it does not form a lasting perennial crown.

• Creeping baby's breath (Gypsophila repens)

  Forms low, spreading mats rather than a tall, upright clump, with white or pink flowers held close above the foliage.

• German statice (Goniolimon tataricum)

  Has a conspicuous basal rosette of broader leaves and stiff, flatter flower sprays with papery flower parts.

Gypsophila means 'gypsum-loving', referring to the lime-rich soils favoured by many species, and paniculata describes its branched flower clusters.

Propagation. Sow species seed in spring; seedlings may differ from named cultivars. Propagate cultivars by basal cuttings in spring, although rooting can be difficult and some are commercially grafted. Division is usually unsuccessful because of the deep, substantial root system.

Accepted botanical name

Gypsophila paniculata

In the US and Canada

Introduced in Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

Altay, Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Central European Rus, Czechoslovakia, East European Russia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Krym and Mongolia.

Measured

Average height 88 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.