Baby's Breath Gypsophila paniculata

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.