Baby’s breath

Baby’s breath: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Much-branched, rounded perennial 60–100 cm tall and 80–100 cm wide.

Leaves

Narrow and lance-shaped, 5–10 cm long, blue-grey, opposite, mainly towards the base of the stems.

Flowers

Thousands of 3–6 mm flowers in large, loose sprays, from June to August.

Colour

White; there are also pale pink varieties, single or double.

Roots

A thick, fleshy taproot that goes deep: do not move it.

Flowering: June–August · Sowing: March–April · Plants: March–May · Pruning: March and August

Why grow it?

• A cloud of white flowers that softens hard shapes in the border.
• A classic cut and dried flower: a few plants supply filler for bouquets all summer.
• Drought-tolerant thanks to its deep taproot.
• Bees and other small insects visit the flowers.
• Long-lived once it is in the right place.

Baby’s breath: where does it grow best?

• Full sun.
• Free-draining sandy or loamy soil, neutral to chalky.
• Dry to moist; it cannot stand wet feet in winter.
• Choose its permanent spot straight away: because of the taproot it cannot be moved later.
• Allow 80–100 cm of space per plant.

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand or loam

Acidity

Neutral or chalky

Moisture

Dry or normal

Size

0.9 m tall, 0.9 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -35 °C)

Goes well with

• Oriental poppy: Baby’s breath fills the gap the poppy leaves in summer when its leaves die down.
• Roses: A classic pairing, in the border and in the vase.
• Catmint: A low blue foreground in the same sunny, dry soil.
• Globe thistle: Bold blue globes poking through the white cloud.

Baby’s breath: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–May.

1. Plant from March to May.
2. Dig a deep hole and loosen the soil at the bottom well, so the taproot can go down easily.
3. In heavier soil mix in coarse sand or gravel; on more acid soil add a handful of lime.
4. Set the plant at the same depth as in the pot and firm the soil.
5. Keep 80–100 cm between it and other plants.
6. Water when planting and in dry spells during the first season.

Care

Water

Only in dry spells during the first year. After that it is not needed.

Feeding

Little needed: some compost in spring on poor soil is enough.

Support

In April, place a plant support or some twiggy sticks over the young shoots so the cloud of flowers doesn’t fall open after rain.

Cutting

Cut stems when about half the flowers are open. To dry, hang bunches upside down in a dry, airy place.

Lime

On neutral soil, scatter a little lime in spring every few years.

Tip: Put a plant support over the young shoots as early as April: the plant grows through it and the cloud of flowers no longer falls open after a shower.

Baby’s breath: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March and August.

When: After flowering in August, and the dead stems in March.

How:

• In August, cut back the faded sprays: a small second flush sometimes follows.
• Let the stems die back in autumn and cut them to just above the ground in March, before the new shoots appear.
• Leave the taproot alone and don’t dig around the base.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Seed

Indoors in March–April at 15–20 °C. Prick out seedlings into small pots and plant them out in May. Double varieties don’t come true from seed: seedlings usually have single flowers.

Cuttings

In May–June, take cuttings of young, non-flowering shoots and root them in sandy cutting compost. It doesn’t always work, but it is the way to keep a variety true.

Baby’s breath: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −35 °C.

• Very hardy, to about −35 °C: in Belgium it needs no protection.
• The top growth dies back; the taproot overwinters deep in the soil.
• Wet soil is the only real danger: make sure drainage is good, especially on clay.
• Mark the spot with a cane so you don’t stab the taproot with a spade in spring.

Diseases and pests

• Root rot: On wet, heavy soil the taproot rots in winter. Replant in a drier spot, with gravel in the planting hole.
• Plant falling open: After rain the cloud of flowers splays apart. Put support in early and choose a sheltered spot.
• Slugs: Eat the young shoots in spring. Pick them off in the evening.
• Failed to return: Often after moving, because the taproot was damaged. Plant a new one straight into its permanent spot.

Through the year

• March: Cut off dead stems. Plant. Sow indoors.
• April: Plant. Put supports in place. Sow indoors.
• May: Plant. Plant out seedlings. Watch for slugs.
• June: Flowering begins. Cut stems for bouquets.
• July: Full flower. Cut and dry.
• August: Flowering ends. Cut back faded sprays.
• October: Let the stems die back.
• November: Mark the spot with a cane.

Edible and useful

Not edible. Baby’s breath contains saponins, especially in the root and seeds: eating it causes vomiting, stomach ache and diarrhoea, in small children as well as in cats and dogs. The greatest risk is indoors: baby’s breath is in many bouquets, and cats like to chew the fine, dry stems. Keep a vase or dried arrangement with baby’s breath out of reach of cats and small children, and clear up fallen flowers. The root was once used as soap; do not make anything from it to swallow. The sap can irritate the skin of sensitive people: wear gloves if you cut a lot. If any is swallowed, call a poison centre (in Belgium 070 245 245) or your doctor at once.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• Gypsophila means ‘gypsum-loving’: many species grow naturally on soils rich in lime and gypsum.
• In parts of North America it has gone wild and become a problem, for example in the dunes along the Great Lakes.
• Its English name, baby’s breath, reflects its delicate look, and it has long been popular in bridal bouquets.