5 named cultivars

perennial

Baby's Breath

The Story

Plant Bio

Gypsophila paniculata, baby's breath, is a mounding perennial from central and eastern Europe east into Siberia, forming a two- to three-foot dome of fine blue-green foliage. From early summer it throws up a haze of hundreds of tiny white or pink flowers on wiry branched stems, and it is the standard airy filler of cut-flower bouquets.

It is a listed noxious weed in Washington, California and Michigan, where a single plant sheds thousands of seeds and it displaces native dune vegetation around the Great Lakes. If you garden in those regions, grow a sterile double cultivar such as 'Bristol Fairy', cut the stems before seed sets, or use the annual Gypsophila elegans instead.

Uses & Benefits:

A cloud of tiny white flowers that softens the gaps between stiffer perennials.

The classic filler for bouquets, fresh or dried, and very long lasting in the vase.

Butterflies visit the flowers, but the plant is invasive in parts of North America and displaces native vegetation.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Perennial

Height

24 inches

Width

24 inches

Light

Full Sun

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Water

Low

Humidity

Low

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Central and eastern Europe to Siberia

Toxicity

Saponins can irritate skin and airways

Planting

How to Grow

Choose full sun and sharply drained, alkaline soil.
Work in lime and grit if your soil is acid or heavy.
Plant it where it will not need moving later.
Support the mound with twiggy sticks or a grow-through ring.
Cut stems for the vase before the seed sets.
Leave the deep taproot undisturbed once established.

Pro Tip

It is named for its love of lime — in acid soil work in garden lime and grit, or it will simply rot over the winter.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Give it sun and sharply drained soil ☀️
Sweeten acid soil with garden lime 🧪
Support the stems before they flop 🪝
Cut flowers before seed forms ✂️

Don't

Plant it in wet or acid ground ❌
Move an established plant — the taproot resents it ❌
Let it seed near dunes or open western land ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Cut
Support

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Cutting garden and cut-flower borderGravel or alkaline dry gardenFiller between early perennials that die back

Companion Plants

Shasta Daisy Oriental Poppy Lavender CoreopsisBearded Iris

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Baby's Breath questions

What zones can Baby's Breath grow in?

Baby's Breath is hardy in USDA Zones 4–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Baby's Breath deer resistant?

Yes — Baby's Breath is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Baby's Breath bloom?

Baby's Breath typically blooms in summer through late summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Baby's Breath need full sun?

Baby's Breath does best in full sun (6+ hours).

Is Baby's Breath drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Baby's Breath handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.