Baby's Breath Seeds (Heirloom)

Plant the best heirloom baby's breath at home

Gypsophila paniculata, often known as baby's breath, is a popular flower variety with over 100 annual and perennial species. They're native to Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, but they're grown well all over the US. Heirloom baby's breath is still a great garden accent, despite its popularity and perhaps overuse by some florists. With so many variations to pick from, you might be surprised to learn about everything this well-known flower has to offer.

Characteristics of heirloom baby's breath

Because of their creeping growth nature, some make an appealing ground cover. Others, with long, wide branches sprouting from their slender stems, grow more upright and contained. They are covered in tiny, five-petaled blooms that are white or pink in hue when they bloom. Butterflies and other pollinators can be seen feasting on the nectar from these delicate blossoms.

How to plant heirloom baby's breath

Find a spot in your garden with well-draining soil to plant baby's breath. It's best to plant on dry, less acidic soils that get plenty of sun (six to eight hours per day). The pH of the soil should be between 7.0 and 7.4, however the plant may handle a pH of up to 8.0. If necessary, lime can be added to soils to raise pH before planting. When you're ready to plant, either broadcast the seeds or sow them equally in rows eight to ten inches apart.

Caring for heirloom baby's breath

After seedlings have grown to a height of one inch tall, they can be thinned out to around eight to ten inches apart. If the soil conditions are well-drained and somewhat alkaline, heirloom baby's breath will require almost no care once established. You can prune back flowers after they've bloomed to trigger a second flush of blossoms. When cutting back flowers, be careful not to disturb the stalks once the plants have established themselves. Staking will be required if the stalks grow long enough to fall over. Heirloom baby's breath is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, making it a low-maintenance plant.

For more information about planting, growing, and caring for baby's breath, see the Baby's Breath Seeds Planting Guide.