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Lavender companion · grow guide
Baby's Breath · Gypsophila
Baby's breath needs full sun and deep, well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil. It has a long taproot, so plant it once and leave it be.
Check my zone & planting dates
Full sunLight
Low waterFast drainage
pH 6.0–8.0Soil
Zones 3a–9bHardiness
27″ tall40″ wide
ResistantDeer · rabbits some resistance
Mildly toxicPets
Huckleberry saysTell me where you grow and I’ll check if Summer Sparkles will thrive there.
Hardy in zones 3a–9b
Spring after frost.
Your year with Summer Sparkles
When it arrives
Plugs are small and dry out fast. Water on arrival, keep in bright light, and harden off a week before planting. Move plugs to the garden early, while the taproot is small; baby's breath resents later transplanting. Plant crown-level in deep, loose soil.
Spring after frost.
Plant the taproot straight down with the crown at soil level. Don't bend or cut the root.
2-3 ft apart; mature plants are wide and airy.
Loam or sandy soil, deep and loose · pH 6.0–8.0
Fix-it tip: In acidic soil, add garden lime based on a soil test. In clay, raise the bed and mix in grit; standing water kills it.
Full sun (tolerates light part shade).
Shade gives weak stems and fewer flowers.
Don’t give up on it
Fresh gray-green shoots appear from the crown in mid spring. New plants may bloom lightly the first year and fill out in years two and three.
Watch for shoots; add support rings early.
Shear after first bloom to stop seeding.
Cut back stems after frost.
Keep the crown dry.
First season: Water weekly through the first summer if rain is short.
After that: Drought tolerant; water only in long dry spells.
Light; a little compost in spring. Avoid heavy nitrogen.
Shear spent flowers after the first flush for a second bloom and to limit seed. Cut stems back in late fall or early spring.
Do not divide; the taproot resents disturbance. Grafted plants: never cut below the graft.
Cold hardy (zones 3-9). Wet winter soil is the main threat.
Handles heat well in dry, sunny spots. Airy stems may need a ring support.
Plant collapses and rots at baseLikely cause: Poor drainage
What to do: Replant in a raised, gritty spot.
Few flowersLikely cause: Acid soil or shade
What to do: Test soil and lime if acidic; give full sun.
Seedlings popping up nearbyLikely cause: Self-sowing
What to do: Shear after bloom before seed sets and pull seedlings.
Yellowing and collapsing at the base mean too wet. Drooping that doesn't recover by evening means too dry.
ASPCA lists baby's breath as non-toxic but notes mild vomiting and diarrhea if eaten. Sap and dust can irritate human skin, eyes, and sinuses.
Deer: resistant · Rabbits: somewhat resistant
Finnegan saysStill not sure what’s wrong? Ask Plant Health — describe it or add a photo.
Possible, with care · 3 gallon+
Needs a deep pot for the taproot and gritty mix. Better in the ground.
Outdoor plant
Needs full sun and winter cold.
Best after a cold winter
Established plants bloom best in early summer after a cold winter; first-year plants may bloom lightly.
Plugs from the tray
3–4 inch pots for 3–5 weeks, until roots hold the soil
Garden bed or a 3 gallon potTime to move up? Slide the plant out: if white roots wrap the outside of the soil, it’s ready for the next size.
Planting with lavender
Plant it right alongside lavender
Shares lavender's love of sun, sharp drainage, and neutral to alkaline soil. Its white haze softens lavender spikes; give it room so it doesn't smother young lavender.
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