Gyposophila (Gypsophila Elegans) - No plant is easier or quicker to grow for masses of delightful blooms than this annual Baby's Breath plant. In just 6 - 8 weeks from sowing Baby's Breath seeds, you'll begin enjoying the tiny, pure-white blooms, which are set at the tips of rather stiff, very well-branched stems. Invaluable for bouquets and arrangements both fresh and dried, they are also a fine source of airy, misty color in the garden--particularly effective with large, brightly-colored blooms or with vertical ornamental grasses. If you want a steady supply of Baby's Breath drought tolerant flowers from spring to fall, just sow the Gypsophila seeds directly in the garden every 2 - 3 weeks as soon as the soil can be worked in spring. Gyposophila elegans will grow in any region of the U.S.

Baby's Breath is one of the most popular drought tolerant wildflowers and it is easy to grow from flower seed. Baby's Breath has tiny, virtually insignificant flowers compared to other wildflowers, but without Baby's Breath other more showy flowers don't appear to their best advantage. Everything looks better with Baby's Breath around it! Gypsophila plants grow upright 12 - 24 inches tall and as wide. It is quite drought tolerant. The Gypsophila flowers are single form, one half inch across, abundant and typically white but there are cultivars available in pink and rose. Its leaves are 3 inches long, lance shaped and fleshy. Unfortunately, it is a very short-lived annual dying after only 5 - 6 weeks. Successively planting the flower seed every 2 - 3 weeks should ensure never being without it during the growing season.

Gypsophila seeds needs to be planted in soil with near neutral pH levels. It prefers well-draining soil with ample organic matter to ensure the plants are drought tolerant. If water should pool around it for any given time it is apt to develop a black slime around the lower stems called stem rot. This makes the plant wilt. But stem rot is easily avoided by placing the Gypsophila plant in raised beds, in pots or simply plant Baby's Breath flower seeds on a small mound of soil if your soil tends to be wet. Baby's Breath prefers to grow in full sun although it does quite well in as little as 4 hours of full sun.

To sow Gypsophila seeds directly outdoors, wait until temperatures have warmed and prepare the soil, sow the flower seeds and lightly rake the soil over the flower seeds barely covering them. Keep Baby's Breath seeds constantly moist, and germination should occur in 10 - 20 days. Repeat sowing the flower seeds every 2 - 3 weeks for successive blooming all growing season. 

Drought-Tolerant Ground Cover

How To Grow

Sow seeds indoors 6 weeks before last expected frost. Plant in trays with soil temperature at 70F degrees. Press seeds into soil and barely cover. Keep seeds consistently moist by watering from underneath the starter tray, allowing soil to soak up the water. Do not place trays in direct sunlight. Germ time is about 10-14 days. Transplant seedlings into prepared soil in the garden after frost has passed. Plants should be watered regularly for strong blooms. Baby's breath has a tap root, thus it will not divide or move well.

• Environment: full sun
• Soil: gritty and well-drained with pH 6.5-7.5
• Sowing rate: 6-8 seeds per plant

Plant Specifications

Creeping baby's breath is a perennial flowering plant that is useful both in the garden and in cut arrangements. It is commonly used as an airy filler flower for bouquets. It grows in USDA zones 3 through 10.

• Bloom color: white
• Bloom season: summer through fall
• Height: 6 inches
• Habit: creeping ground cover

Gypsophila (Gypsophila Repens Rose) - What a charming, delicate flower! This Creeping Baby's Breath is a perennial variety that easily establishes from Gypsophila seeds. It is very low-growing, only reaching 6 inches, and it spreads making it a great option as a ground cover. Gypsophila also works well for the border or creeping along in a path. Since this variety is trailing, it also is excellent in rock gardens, trailing over rock walls, or in pots. It's delightful wherever you decided to grow it! Baby's Breath has papery rose blooms and soft gray-green foliage. The light, airy masses of small pink flowers make a good contrast to larger flowers in the garden.

Baby's Breath ground cover is fairly carefree once it is established from flower seeds. It only requires good watering to keep the blooms profuse. It has a taproot and does not divide or move well. Sow Baby's Breath seeds indoors 6 weeks prior to last frost. Gypsophila seed germinates at a cooler temperature. Press flower seeds into the soil, but do not cover. Keep the flower seeds constantly moist, watering from underneath the starter tray. Do not put the trays in direct sunlight. Germination can be irregular. Transplant the Creeping Baby's Breath seedlings into prepared soil in the flower garden.

Drought-Tolerant Ground Cover

How To Grow

Sow seeds indoors 6 weeks before last expected frost. Plant in trays with soil temperature at 70F degrees. Press seeds into soil and barely cover. Keep seeds consistently moist by watering from underneath the starter tray, allowing soil to soak up the water. Do not place trays in direct sunlight. Germ time is about 10-14 days. Transplant seedlings into prepared soil in the garden after frost has passed. Plants should be watered regularly for strong blooms. Baby's breath has a tap root, thus it will not divide or move well.

• Environment: full sun
• Soil: gritty and well-drained with pH 6.5-7.5
• Sowing rate: 6-8 seeds per plant

Plant Specifications

Creeping baby's breath is a perennial flowering plant that is useful both in the garden and in cut arrangements. It is commonly used as an airy filler flower for bouquets. It grows in USDA zones 3 through 10.

• Bloom color: white
• Bloom season: summer through fall
• Height: 6 inches
• Habit: creeping ground cover

Gypsophila (Gypsophila Elegans Crimson) - Annual Baby's Breath is one of the very easiest flowers to grow from Gypsophila seeds, and it gives so much beauty and complements other flowers so nicely in the flower garden. Crimson Baby's Breath is an annual, so it grows quickly, blooms heavily, and dies. Many gardeners plant Baby's Breath seeds successively every 2 - 3 weeks to keep a continuous supply of color in the garden and blooms for cutting to make flower arrangements. Baby's Breath plants are fairly hardy, tolerating some drought and light shade. It does well everywhere, coastal areas to high elevations; it is widely adaptable.

If you would like to get a jump start on the growing season, sow Baby's Breath seeds indoors 4 - 6 weeks before the last frost is expected. Using starter trays and sterile potting mix, sow the flower seeds on the surface, pressing them into the soil. Baby's Breath flower seeds need light for germination so do not cover heavily. Transplant the Baby's Breath seedlings when there are at least two sets of true leaves into the flower garden in prepared soil. To sow Gypsophila seeds directly outdoors, wait until temperatures have warmed and prepare the soil, sow the flower seeds and lightly rake the soil over the flower seeds barely covering them. Keep Baby's Breath flower seeds constantly moist, and germination should occur in 10 - 20 days. Repeat sowing the flower seeds every 2 - 3 weeks for successive blooming all growing season.

Drought-Tolerant Ground Cover

How To Grow

Sow seeds indoors 6 weeks before last expected frost. Plant in trays with soil temperature at 70F degrees. Press seeds into soil and barely cover. Keep seeds consistently moist by watering from underneath the starter tray, allowing soil to soak up the water. Do not place trays in direct sunlight. Germ time is about 10-14 days. Transplant seedlings into prepared soil in the garden after frost has passed. Plants should be watered regularly for strong blooms. Baby's breath has a tap root, thus it will not divide or move well.

• Environment: full sun
• Soil: gritty and well-drained with pH 6.5-7.5
• Sowing rate: 6-8 seeds per plant

Plant Specifications

Creeping baby's breath is a perennial flowering plant that is useful both in the garden and in cut arrangements. It is commonly used as an airy filler flower for bouquets. It grows in USDA zones 3 through 10.

• Bloom color: white
• Bloom season: summer through fall
• Height: 6 inches
• Habit: creeping ground cover

Gypsophila (Gypsophila Elegans Rosea) - This pink Baby's Breath is a short-lived annual (only 5 - 6 weeks) and has lance-shaped, fleshy leaves and single, light pink, blooms. Easy to grow and quick to bloom from flower seed, these pretty pink flowers bloom on wispy stalks. Gypsophila Elegans Rosea makes a wonderful cut flower and complements other, more showy flowers very nicely whether in the garden or in a vase.

If you would like to get a jump start on the growing season, sow Baby's Breath seeds indoors 4 - 6 weeks before the last frost is expected. Using starter trays and sterile potting mix, sow the flower seeds on the surface, pressing them into the soil. Gypsophila seeds need light for germination so do not cover heavily. Transplant Baby's Breath seedlings when there are at least two sets of true leaves into the flower garden, in prepared soil. To sow Gypsophila flower seeds directly outdoors, wait until temperatures have warmed and prepare the soil, sow the flower seeds and lightly rake the soil over the flower seeds barely covering them. Keep Baby's Breath seeds constantly moist, and germination should occur in 10 - 20 days. Repeat sowing Gypsophila Elegans seeds every 2 - 3 weeks for successive blooming all growing season.

Drought-Tolerant Ground Cover

How To Grow

Sow seeds indoors 6 weeks before last expected frost. Plant in trays with soil temperature at 70F degrees. Press seeds into soil and barely cover. Keep seeds consistently moist by watering from underneath the starter tray, allowing soil to soak up the water. Do not place trays in direct sunlight. Germ time is about 10-14 days. Transplant seedlings into prepared soil in the garden after frost has passed. Plants should be watered regularly for strong blooms. Baby's breath has a tap root, thus it will not divide or move well.

• Environment: full sun
• Soil: gritty and well-drained with pH 6.5-7.5
• Sowing rate: 6-8 seeds per plant

Plant Specifications

Creeping baby's breath is a perennial flowering plant that is useful both in the garden and in cut arrangements. It is commonly used as an airy filler flower for bouquets. It grows in USDA zones 3 through 10.

• Bloom color: white
• Bloom season: summer through fall
• Height: 6 inches
• Habit: creeping ground cover