Nothing says wedding bouquet like sprigs of Baby’s Breath. This delicate flower is a common filler in floral posies and boutonnieres. Baby’s Breath flowers meaning is associated with enduring love and purity, making them the prized flower at weddings. 

Baby’s Breath belongs to the Gypsophila family. This name stems from the high gypsum content found in its origin. Gypsum is an additive to improve dense clay composition in the soil. 

Baby’s Breath flowers and posies became popular in the Victorian era as a sign of innocence. Today, Baby’s Breath is grown worldwide. Read on and learn more about this popular flower!

Baby’s Breath Flower Physical Appearance

Although modern wedding trends favor other more exotic floral bouquets, Baby’s Breath remains an iconic symbol of matrimony and birth.

These sprigs of delicate five-petal flowers in white or pink flowers cluster on a stem and create the illusion of a bushy plant. They feel dry or strawlike to the touch and make excellent dried flowers in ornamental crafts and arrangements.

Baby’s Breath grows upright with globe-like mounds made up of hundreds of delicate flowers. The taller specimens can reach up to 18 inches in height.

Baby’s Breath flowers bloom for several weeks from June to October and are a favorite for passing butterflies. The crown consists of numerous star-shaped blossoms in delicate pinks and pure white Baby’s Breath flowers that perpetuate the meaning of purity and innocence. 

Growing Guide and Care For Baby’s Breath Flowers

Baby’s Breath is a perennial plant (it regrows every spring) perfect for sunny gardens with proper soil drainage and occasional fertilizer treatments to promote healthy flowers. 

Watering during peak dry times and supporting heavy crowns with stakes is a common trick. Pruning after flowering helps the mature plant to develop a healthy root and stem system. Deadheading is not essential. Baby Breath can flower all summer.

Overall, Baby’s Breath is immune to most pests and diseases. They tolerate partial mid-day shade. Too much shade produces spindly plants with few flowers. 

Baby’s Breath fares well in slightly alkaline PH soil and is perfect for Hardiness Zones 3-9. A touch of garden lime in acidic soils should cure the earth enough for these hardy perennial plants.

The plants suffer in wet clay soil and prefer well-drained sandy soil. Baby’s Breath makes ideal companion plants in containers and raised beds. 

Dry environments and soil conditions are perfect for Baby’s Breath but require adequate water sources for young plants. Mature plants can tolerate extended drought. Too much water will likely kill the plant with root rot.

In high humidity, make sure the soil is arid and well-drained. The plant is not fussy once prime conditions allow it to mature. Occasional doses of compost in the spring are a perfect food source. After planting, don’t disturb their root system.

Seeding

To harvest the lacy blossoms of the Caryophyllaceae family, sow seeds outdoors. Seeds are hardy, and the seeds will sprout even with slight chances of frost. In mild winter climates, plant in the late fall.

Typically germination takes 10-20 days and for an all-season bloom, reseed every three to four weeks. Protects seeds with a thin layer of soil and space them evenly at six to eight-inch spacing. Remember, the crowns of a Baby’s Breath are voluminous. 

Choose a perennial variant if you want your Baby’s Breath collection to come back every year. Annuals may also reseed and reproduce. 

Interesting Facts About Baby’s Breath

Florists use Baby’s Breath stalks and flowers in dried and fresh-cut formats. The versatility of Baby’s Breath makes it an ideal filler material. Baby’s Breath is not an expensive flower to purchase or grow. With proper care, Baby’s Breath’s flowers will last five to ten days after being picked.

Baby’s Breath Potential Hazards

A commonly asked question that lingers on the internet is, “Is Baby’s Breath poisonous?” Actually, the sap can cause mild skin irritations, like contact dermatitis or other skin rashes. When animals ingest the saponins in the plant, they may suffer stomach upset. The plant is considered mildly toxic and is a classified noxious weed in parts of the country.

Allergy sufferers may also experience sinus congestion and eye irritation from the dried blooms. 

Baby’s Breath Environmental Benefits

Baby’s Breath is beneficial because it attracts pollinators like butterflies to the garden. However, avid gardeners are divided about this fact. One side champions the eradication, while others enjoy the visual appeal and attractive value of pollinating insects.

Florists and home gardeners also dispute the joys of the aroma expelled by Baby’s Breath. Some enjoy the unique scent. Others liken it to the pungent odor of urine. If you find Baby’s Breath smell unpleasant, a pinch of salt in a vase may negate its odor. 

Another interesting fact about Baby’s Breath is that Saponins produced by this flower and other plants might contain cancer-curing properties.

Conclusion

Baby’s Breath has a long history as a lasting love and purity symbol. Despite many recent detractors on the wedding scene, it remains an essential flower for florists and crafters. 

This flower has recently made noxious weed lists in California and Washington. Several states consider it a potentially invasive plant. During each growing season, a single plant might spread as many as 14,000 Baby’s Breath seeds.

One common fact about Baby’s Breath remains undisputed. It’s part of our culture, if not our garden.