Gypsophila paniculata, the baby's breath, common gypsophila or panicled baby's-breath, is a species of flowering plant in the familyCaryophyllaceae, native to central and eastern Europe. It is an herbaceousperennial growing to 1.2 m (4 ft) tall and wide, with mounds of branching stems covered in clouds of tiny white flowers in summer (hence the common name "baby's breath").[1] Another possible source of this name is its scent, which has been described as sour milk, like a baby's “spit-up”.[2][3][4] Its natural habitat is on the Steppes in dry, sandy and stony places, often on calcareous soils (gypsophila = "chalk-loving"). Specimens of this plant were first sent to Linnaeus from St. Petersburg by the Swiss-Russian botanist Johann Amman.
Cultivation
It is a popular ornamental garden subject, and thrives in well-drained alkaline to neutral soils in full sun. Numerous cultivars have been selected, of which 'Rosenschleier'[5] (with pale pink double flowers) has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[6]
Floristry
Gypsophila paniculata is much used in the floristry trade (where it is often simply called "gyp") providing an effective backdrop for larger or more structured blooms. It is commercially cultivated in Peru, forming a major portion of that country's flower exports.[7] It is commonly grown and sold for corsages in the United States.[8]
^ abThe growing problem of invasive species : joint oversight hearing before the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans joint with the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands of the Committee on Resources, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Eighth Congress, first session, Tuesday, April 29, 2003. Washington: U.S. G.P.O. 2003. p. 97. ISBN978-0-16-070777-3. OCLC53336784.
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