Many people know baby’s breath as the tiny white flowers that accent corsages and bridal bouquets. They are also common in flower arrangements and are used often to complement roses. But, baby’s breath is not hard to grow and can be a delight in the home flower garden. It is good as both a cutting flower and can easily be dried for crafts or winter arrangements.
The delicate looking airy baby’s breath plant is a tender annual that also goes by the Latin name Gypsophilia elegans. It bears small puffy balls of white or pink flowers and usually grows between one to two feet tall. Baby’s breath looks best when planted in masses. Birds, butterflies and bees are attracted to it so consider this plant for the butterfly garden.
Types of Baby’s Breath
Baby’s breath is native to North Africa, Asia and Europe. In the old fashioned language of flowers gypsophilia symbolizes purity, innocence, and long lasting love. There are both annual and perennial varieties of baby’s breath but it is mostly grown as an annual in American gardens.
When selecting which type of baby’s breath to grow, consider personal preferences for size and color. For example, the variety Early Snowball has small, round flowers and grows about 3 feet tall. This is a more traditional type of baby’s breath. In contrast Gypsy Deep rose has dark pink flowers and grows about a foot tall.
How to Grow and Care for Gypsophilia
When selecting a location to grow baby’s breath in, first consider the soil. It does not like rocky or compacted soil so amend the soil with compost to enrich and lighten it. Avoid adding peat moss to the garden bed before planting gypsophilia. The Greek words that make up the name of this flower are “gypsos” and “philos”, which means “lime loving”. It does not do well in acidic soil and working lime into the garden bed a few weeks before planting the seeds will help the plant grow better.
Baby’s breath is not commonly available as transplants so to grow them the home gardener must start the plants from seed. These plants can be started directly outdoors as soon as the threat of frost has passed. Scatter the seeds over the surface of the soil and cover them with about a ¼ inch of soil. Water the garden bed gently so the seeds do not wash away. The gypsophilia seeds will take about 10-15 days to sprout but can grow quickly once they emerge.
If starting the baby’s breath seedlings indoors they can be transplanted outside when they are about two to three inches tall and the weather is sufficiently warm. These plants are easily bothered by cold so make sure the warm late spring weather has fully arrived before planting them. Leave about eight inches between the plants and make sure they get full sun.
Gypsophilia is not drought tolerant because it grows so fast and needs to be watered regularly. The plant will die once it blooms so reseed the bed every two weeks until the middle of the summer to harvest the flowers continuously through the summer season. Though, baby’s breath can reseed itself and become invasive.
How to Preserve Baby’s Breath
To dry baby’s breath first use pruning shears to cut off the stems at the soil level. Make them into small bundles of about four or five stems and fasten them together with rubber bands. Hang the bundles upside down in a warm place with good air circulation. Check them after about a week. If they do not feel dry and papery leave them for a few more days. When the plants feel fully dry use them in dried flower arrangements.
Resources
How to grow gypsophilia – baby’s breath
Catherine Mezensky - Catherine A. Mezensky is a writer and artist living in Baltimore Maryland. Her topics include gardening, film, culture and local history. ...
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