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Baby's Breath Gypsophila paniculata

Phonetic Spelling
jip-SOF-il-uh pan-ick-yoo-LAY-tuh
This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

This perennial form of baby's breath is cultivated as a garden ornamental or used by florists for fillers in bouquets, particularly with roses. It flowers from summer to fall and can be found in fields, roadsides, beaches, and other open, sandy areas in soils that are not strongly acidic.  It needs full sun and well-drained alkaline to neutral soil.  Cut it back after flowering to encourage more blooms.  Plant it in small groups beds or borders or use it in containers, a cutting or cottage garden. Its fine billowy texture masks the dying stems of spent spring bulbs or early summer bloomers like poppies especially well.

With double-flowered cultivars which have been grafted onto single-flowered rootstocks, care must be taken to avoid cutting the plant back below the graft union. Baby's breath should be left undisturbed in the garden to avoid damage to the large, fleshy roots.  It is resistant to salt, drought, and damage by deer.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  In parts of central and western America, it may be considered a weed as it is widespread in hayfields and pastures. It is classified as a noxious weed in California and Washington.  When the plant is dried it is considered a respiratory, eye, and skin irritant.  

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Bristol Fairy'
    Double white flowers, branched mounding
  • 'Perfekta'
'Bristol Fairy', 'Perfekta'
Tags:
#drought tolerant#white flowers#salt tolerant#low maintenance#cottage garden#flower arrangements#long-lasting flowers#deer resistant#long bloom time#rock garden#border planting#cutting garden#flowers midsummer#dried arrangements#flowers early summer#flowers late summer#flowers early fall#roadside#contact dermatitis#container plant#weed
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Bristol Fairy'
    Double white flowers, branched mounding
  • 'Perfekta'
'Bristol Fairy', 'Perfekta'
Tags:
#drought tolerant#white flowers#salt tolerant#low maintenance#cottage garden#flower arrangements#long-lasting flowers#deer resistant#long bloom time#rock garden#border planting#cutting garden#flowers midsummer#dried arrangements#flowers early summer#flowers late summer#flowers early fall#roadside#contact dermatitis#container plant#weed
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Gypsophila
    Species:
    paniculata
    Family:
    Caryophyllaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Wildlife Value:
    Flowers attract butterflies.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Mounding
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Frequent Standing Water
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    White
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Cut
    Good Dried
    Long Bloom Season
    Long-lasting
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    3-6 inches
    Flower Description:
    Many small white flowers, sometimes double-flowered bloom from early summer to early fall.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Leathery
    Slippery
    Smooth
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Acicular
    Leaf Margin:
    Doubly Crenate
    Leaf Length:
    < 1 inch
  • Stem:
    Stem Buds:
    Smooth/Hairless
    Stem Description:
    may be erect or sprawling, much-branched at or near crown
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Patio
    Landscape Theme:
    Cottage Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Diseases
    Drought
    Salt
    Problems:
    Contact Dermatitis
    Malodorous
    Poisonous to Humans
    Weedy
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Medium
    Poison Symptoms:
    Eyes, nose, and sinus irritation and asthma after repeated handling; skin irritation after contact
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Saponin?
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    Yes
    Poison Part:
    Bark