Baby's Breath — Growing reference
| Scientific name | Gypsophila paniculata |
|---|---|
| Seed germination (days) | 10–21 |
| Soil temperature for germination (°C) | 15.6–21.1 |
| First harvest or flowering (days) | 365–730 |
| Measured from | Seed |
| Plant spacing (cm) | 61–91.4 |
| Mature height (cm) | 61–121.9 |
| Mature spread (cm) | 61–91.4 |
| USDA hardiness zones | 3–9 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Water | Low |
| Sowing method | Direct sow |
Growing directions
Plant in deep, well-drained, slightly alkaline soil in full sun; baby's breath produces enormous clouds of tiny white or pale pink flowers on airy, branching stems from early to midsummer that are indispensable as a filler in fresh and dried flower arrangements. The delicate, misty appearance belies a tough, long-lived perennial that thrives in poor, dry, alkaline soil where many plants fail. Cutting stems regularly for arrangements encourages continuous blooming. For drying, harvest stems when flowers are fully open and hang upside-down in bundles. The cultivar 'Bristol Fairy' (double-flowered) is the most widely grown; 'Perfecta' has especially large double flowers. Best suited to zones 3–7; may be short-lived in humid hot climates.
Source and local conditions
Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.
Source & verification
OpenPlantDB · CC0