Annual Baby's Breath Plant Care
Gypsophila elegans M.Bieb.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Gypsophila elegans, the annual baby's-breath or showy baby's-breath, is an ornamental plant native to Asia and Europe.
Every 7–10 days
Full sun to partial shade
60–75°F
40–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Annual Baby's Breath?
Water Annual Baby's Breath every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 60–75°F (16–24°C) and 40–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Annual Baby's Breath Native To?
- Albania
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- The Netherlands
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
What Is the Annual Baby's Breath?
Annual Baby's Breath (Gypsophila elegans) belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family within the Gypsophila genus. Annual Baby's Breath is native to Asia and Europe. Annual Baby's Breath is also known as Elegant Gypsophila, Showy Baby's Breath.
Annual Baby's Breath displays a low mounding perennial growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1.5 ft. Annual Baby's Breath produces small delicate white or pink flowers in clusters.
Leaf size: approximately 1 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Annual Baby's Breath?
Gypsophila elegans requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Annual Baby's Breath Need?
Annual Baby's Breath thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Annual Baby's Breath Prefer?
Gypsophila elegans grows best at temperatures of 60–75°F. Annual Baby's Breath prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.
Temperature
60–75°F
Humidity
40–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Annual Baby's Breath?
Well-draining sandy soil with added perlite for improved drainage. Good drainage is essential for Annual Baby's Breath to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Annual Baby's Breath?
Feed Annual Baby's Breath every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Annual Baby's Breath?
Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Annual Baby's Breath?
Annual Baby's Breath can be propagated through seeds, division of clumps. Similar propagation techniques also apply to babys breath plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Annual Baby's Breath Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Annual Baby's Breath, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Annual Baby's Breath?
Annual Baby's Breath is susceptible to aphids, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Annual Baby's Breath Need?
Annual Baby's Breath grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. Annual Baby's Breath is native to Asia and Europe. In cooler regions, grow Annual Baby's Breath as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 13a
Keep exploring plants
Annual Baby's Breath is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Gypsophila genus — compare its care with other Gypsophila species on PlantoScan.
Gypsophila is part of the Caryophyllaceae plant family — browse all Caryophyllaceae genera and species.
Annual Baby's Breath thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Gypsophila Species
Other Gypsophila species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Gypsophila elegans M.Bieb., family Caryophyllaceae (first published in Fl. Taur.-Caucas. 1: 319 (1808)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Annual Baby's Breath, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 13a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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