(Gypsophila elegans ‘Deep Carmine’)

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Deep Carmine Baby's Breath is an introduced, tender, warm-weather, annual flower commonly found growing in sandy soils of meadow steppes and outskirts of woodlands of Eurasia. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 2-3' and features dense branches that bear 2” long lance-shaped foliage and small, 1/2” pink flower blooms. This plant can be grown in containers, attracts bees and butterflies, is deer resistant, is highly used in floral arrangements, and self-sows! 

  • General Information
  • Starting Baby's Breath Seeds
  • Crop Care
  • Harvesting
  • Seed Saving
  • Companion Planting
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Family: Caryophyllaceae 

Genus: Gypsophila 

Species: ​elegans

Variety: Deep Carmine Baby's Breath

Grown as: Annual

Native to: Iran, Krym, North Caucasus, Transcaucasus, Turkey, Ukraine.

Introduced into: Alabama, Alaska, Alberta, Austria, Baltic States, Bolivia, California, Canary Is., Colombia, Colorado, Connecticut, Czechoslovakia, Dominican Republic, Eritrea, France, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala, Illinois, Iowa, Italy, Kansas, Libya, Madeira, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Morocco, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northwest Territorie, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Pakistan, Pennsylvania, Québec, Rhode I., Saskatchewan, Spain, Tanzania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Yukon.
 
Maturity (Blooms): Spring to Summer.

​Light: Full Sun 

Soil Moisture: Medium

Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Attracts Bees, Butterflies while being Deer resistant.

Height: 18-24”
 
Spacing: 8-10”

Sow Depth: 1/8"
 
USDA Zone: 3a-9b

Produces: dense branches that bare 2” long lance shaped foliage and small 1/2” pink flower blooms. 

Starting Baby's Breath Seeds Indoors for Spring

To start your Baby's Breath seeds indoors, sow your seeds in 2" Soil Blocks 4-6 weeks before the last frost date of your area. Keep your soil lightly moist until germination, which usually occurs in 10-15 days. Baby's Breath will begin to bloom in about 4 weeks from seed, for a duration of about 6 weeks. Be sure to sow them every couple weeks for continued blooms all summer. ​

​Transplanting Baby's Breath Seedlings Outdoors for Spring

Transplant your Baby's Breath seedlings outdoors into rich, light soils, 8-10" apart, as soon as the weather allows.

​Starting Baby's Breath Seeds Outdoors for Spring

To direct sow your Baby's Breath seeds in spring, wait until after the soil has warmed to about 70 degrees F. Press your seed into the soil’s surface, since it requires light to sprout. Keep the soil moist until it germinates, which usually occurs in 10-15 days. 
Baby's Breath grows quickly and grows best with regular watering as it develops it's blooms. Once mature, Baby's Breath can tolerate some drought. It will begin to bloom in about 4 weeks from seed, for a duration of about 6 weeks. Baby's Breath will self-seed readily, though cutting the foliage down to ground level after blooming will prevent this. Baby's Breath also attracts bees and butterflies, and resists deer.
For fresh flowers, cut long stems of flowers that have just opened and place them in water immediately; strip the leaves that will fall below the water. These flowers also dry well.
After blooming, each flower will develop a small round seed pod. It will self-seed readily , though cutting the foliage down to ground level after blooming will prevent this. As soon as the pods dry and contain mature black seed, shake them over a container to remove the seed. The entire plant can also be cut several inches above ground level and hung upside down, to allow the seed to fall as the plant dries.

Companion Planting

Companion planting is an excellent practice for any skill level of gardener. By using the natural substances contained within a plant’s roots your garden can both repel unwanted insects and attract those with useful traits. Companion planting can also be used to group flowers that prefer similar conditions.

Using companion plants as a border, backdrop, or interplanting in your garden beds will allow you to harness the ecosystem to its full potential.  It is best to use plants native to your area so that the insects you seek to attract will know what to look for!

Japanese Anemone, Bleeding Heart, Dwarf Delphinium, Foxglove, Gayfeather, Garden Phlox, Oriental Poppy, Russian Sage, Shasta Daisy

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Some susceptibility to botrytis and aster yellows. May need staking or other support.

Suggested Varieties

(Digitalis purpurea ‘Foxglove’)

Foxglove is a biennial/short-lived perennial flower that is native to eastern Europe but can be commonly found growing in open woods, woodland clearings, moorland and heath margins, sea-cliffs, rocky mountain slopes, and hedge banks throughout the northeastern and northwestern United States. At maturity, this plant features thick, textured leaves at the base and tall spikes of tubular, dangling 2-3” blossoms of rose pink or purple with tiny contrasting spots. This plant attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer and rabbits, and is used as a cut flower! 
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