Baby Breath Flower: Explore the Uniqueness of This Filler Flower

The baby breath flowers were not something I was unfamiliar with. I had always seen them being paired with roses, peonies, and the narcissus flower.

Not neglecting the fact that this contrast looks elegant and timeless, I wanted to explore the beauty of this perennial flower in more detail. 

Right from learning about its significance to growing and finally using it for ornamental purposes, it has been nothing less than a visual and gardening treat, plus these are perennial, so it is a one-time investment.  

If you, too, are a true anthophile, like me, and like to have a flower garden including all the beautiful blooms, dive in to explore the baby breath flowers and grow them in your garden this spring! 

What is a Baby Breath Flower? Overview and Taxonomy 

The baby breath flowers are not rare but unique, almost always visible in floral settings for weddings and special occasions. Scientifically known as Gypsophila, the baby breaths are native to Eurasia, Australia, and Africa. 

It is interesting how the scientific name of this flower is derived from the Greek words ‘gypsum’ (chalk) and ‘phila ( loving), referring to its soil preference. 

Available in a variety of colours like pink, yellow, purple, but the most popular ones are the white, which is often visible being paired with different flowers in a bouquet. 

Additionally, the baby breath features small clusters of flowers with delicate stems that grow up to 2.5 feet tall and add a very ethereal and elegant touch to any setting. 

Take a look at the taxonomy of the baby breaths for a deeper understanding. 

Botanical name	Gypsophila
Kingdom	Plantae
Division	Magnoliophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Order	Caryophyllales
Family	Caryophyllaceae Juss.
Genus	Gypsophila L.
Species	Gypsophila L.

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Different Types of Baby Breath Flowers

The Gypsohila genus has a variety of flowers that vary in terms of their growth habit, height, life cycle, and more. Isn’t it fascinating how such a beautiful bloom has various cultivars, making it even more interesting to explore the flower. 

The most popular types of baby breaths are: 

Name	Image	Description
G. paniculata ‘Bristol Fairy.’		The herbaceous perennial flower grows up to 48 inches tall.  It has a perennial and mound-forming growth habit and produces small, double white flowers.
G. elegans		The G. elegans plant grows up to a height of 24 inches.  Unlike most of the babys breath flowers, it is an annual and dies back in the frost.  It has an upright growth habit and produces single white or pink flowers.
G. paniculata ‘Compacta Plena’		The Compacta Plena cultivar of the babies breath flowers produces single white flowers and reaches a height of up to 12-14 inches. It is a little shorter and bushier than bristol fairy and ideal for garden hedges.
G. paniculata ‘Viette’s Dwarf.’		As the name suggested it is a short to medium-sized cultivar that grows up to 1-1.5 ft tall and produces double pink flowers.
G. paniculata ‘Pink Fairy.’		This pink baby’s breath is a perennial flower that is a medium-sized plant with a height reaching up to 12-18 inches.  The bloom of the flower fades into white as the plant matures.

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What is the Baby’s Breath Flower Meaning?

The meaning of Baby’s Breath is associated mainly with innocence, purity, and love. It is widely used in weddings, baby showers, and more such special occasions. 

I used the babys breath flowers for the first time as a birthday present for my best friend, but honestly, it has such a versatile use and for all the good reasons.

Baby’s Breath Flower Meaning in Special Occasions

Occasion

1. Weddings  Meaning: Everlasting love,  new beginnings, and a centre decor piece.

2. Baby Showers  Meaning: New life, innocence, and purity

3. Birthday Present Meaning: Love, affection and sincerity

Baby’s Breath Flower Meaning for Different Colours

Apart from the classic white, the colors of baby breath range from pink, yellow, lavender and more. Moreover, the different colours of the baby breath also signify something different. 

Colour	Meaning
White	Love, unity and new beginnings
Pink	Gentle love and femininity
Lavender	Spirituality and elegance
Blue	Trust and loyalty
Orange	Optimism and joy
Red	Romance and passionate love

Fun Fact! 

The baby breath flowers are associated with the zodiac sign Capricorn, like the honeysuckle flower for Aries. 

Yes, the resilient, practical and grounded nature of the people born during this time is widely associated with the baby’s breath. 

Capricorns have to have one baby breath plant at home, don’t they? 

How to Grow and Care for the Baby Breath Flowers? 

Worry not, newbie gardeners; planting the baby breath flowers is extremely easy and hassle-free. In fact, I look forward to planting these cloud-like blooms in my gardens; it is my way of welcoming the spring. 

Let me first take you through all the growing requirements for the flower: 

Planting Time	Early spring
Soil Requirements	Well-draining, sandy, or loamy
Sunlight	6 hours of direct sunlight
Water	Regular watering
Hardiness	USDA zones 3-9
Fertiliser	Slow-release balanced fertiliser

How to Plant Baby Breath Flowers using Seeds? 

Planting the baby breath flowers using seeds is the most effective and easy way of growing them in your garden. Here is a 6-step guide I follow that has worked for me each time: 

1. Select a spot with well-draining soil that receives direct sunlight. 

2. Now, prepare the soil by cleaning the debris and adding organic manure for added soil fertility. 

3. Take the baby breath plant seeds and sow them in the soil, placing each seed at least 12 inches apart to avoid overcrowding. 

4. Water them regularly and keep the soil moist, but look out for waterlogging as it can lead to root rot. 

5. Cover the soil with a layer of mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds. 

6. In a week or two, the seedling will appear, and the flower will pop up at least 12 weeks after sowing the seeds. 

Care Tips for the Baby’s Breath: 

Too much fertiliser can harm your babys breath flowers. Yes, care tips are not only essential to inculcate certain steps, but also to know what can harm the plant. 

Take a look at the basic care tips for healthy babys breath: 

1. Soil Type: The correct type of soil for Babys breath is essential to provide proper drainage and airflow that is required for healthy growth. 

2. Pruning: Cut back the spent blooms in early spring to promote bushier growth. 

3. Fertiliser: A balanced, slow-released fertiliser is usually good for the baby’s breath, but excessive nitrogen can lead to more foliage rather than flowers.  

4. Moisture Retention: The  Baby’s Breath Gypsophila thrives in moist soil, and for that layer the soil with mulch but keep it away from the stems, as that can lead to root rot. 

How to Harvest the Baby Breath’s Flower?

Harvest the baby breath flowers on time for the most efficient use. Fresh flowers and dried flowers are harvested and stored differently due to their differing uses:

Purpose	How to Harvest and Store
Fresh Flowers	For fresh baby breath flowers, harvest early in the morning when the blooms are about 70% open.  Use sharp garden shears to do the same, and then store them in a water-filled vase at room temperature.
Dried Flowers	To harvest the baby breath flowers for dried blooms, look for if the blooms are completely open.  After harvesting, hang them in a dark, well-ventilated room for 5-7 days.

What are the Uses of the Baby Breath flowers? 

The baby breath flower is versatile and can be seen used as a filler in floral arrangements or as standalone decor pieces. 

If you, too, are confused about how to use these white perennial flowers, let me take you through all the ways they can be used: 

1. Pair with your Favourite Blooms

   

   The thing I like about these blooms is that you don’t have to make them your favourite; you can pair them with different flowers. I love how it looks with roses and hyssop flowers. You can try your combination and explore. 

2. Wedding Decor 

   

   Associated with the idea of love and new beginnings, it is widely used in decorative pieces across the world for weddings. Whether as decoration or the bride holding the bouquet paired with roses, it is always a treat to watch. 

3. Indoor Decor Piece 

   

   Forget all the lavish occasions and place them in a glass vase on your dining table or anywhere in the living room, and watch it being the centre of attraction in every gathering. 

   They usually stay fresh for 10 days if maintained properly. 

4. DIY Creation 

   

   My favourite part about drying the baby’s breath flower is to create something meaningful out of it. Like a tiara, for instance, or in my journal as decoration. This not only adds a whole new meaning to it but also does not restrict it to one purpose. 

Scientific Research About the Baby Breath Flowers 

Did you know these small and delicate baby breath flowers have antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory properties? Or can it be a trigger for asthma? 

Yes, the uses of the Babys Breath plant are not limited to ornamental purposes, as it has been a part of medical research for its health benefits and potential risks too. 

Take a look at these research studies: 

Research summary box 1  Study year:  2024 Sample type: Gypsophila paniculata ethanol extracts and Adult male Wistar albino rats Aim:  Antidiabetic, anti- inflammatory and antioxidant potential of the Gypsophila paniculata Key findings:  The Gypsophila paniculata was effective against Type-2 diabetes Mellitus by reducing the glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels.  This proved the potential of the baby breath plant extracts as anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic. Further research is still needed to validate these results.   Source: National Center of Biotechnology Information

Research summary box 2  Study year:  1990  Sample type: 22 -year old florist  Aim:  To analyse the effects of the baby leaf flower as a trigger for occupational asthma  Key findings: A Bronchial challenge test confirmed that a certain protein in the plant triggered occupational asthma in the florist.  The test results showed a significant drop in FEV1, which is an indicator of the amount of air a person can breathe in a minute.  It was concluded that the person developed an allergic reaction due to the baby breath plant.  Source: National Center of Biotechnology Information

Wrapping Up

Babys breath flowers are proof that flowers do not need to be big and loud to be significant. These small, delicate flowers of this ornamental bloom are no less than all the flowers it is paired with.

Whether it is the easy-to-grow guide of the Babies breath flowers or the meaning associated with love, purity and innocence, its significance is more than just a filler flower.

I have been in awe of these flowers ever since I grew them in my garden, and if you are also wondering how to start a garden and what flowers to grow, this perennial flower might be the perfect first choice for you. 

Happy gardening! 

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