Your first choice for the dry flower is the baby’s breath plant

Your first choice for the dry flower is the baby's breath plant
Your first choice for the dry flower is the baby’s breath plant

Baby’s breath plant is a beautiful and delicate plant with dew-like flowers.

Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila): The perennial species Gypsophila is native to Europe, Asia and North Africa, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. It is a perennial plant of the Carnation family, with 150 species in nature. Cultivated garden plants are cultivated all over the world.

In the language of flowers, it symbolizes purity of heart, sincerity, and happiness. The meaning of these flowers is the main reason why florists like to combine them with roses, which are a symbol of sincere and pure love. In appearance, the small mendacious flowers resemble bells or carnations. The smallest flowers are no more than 0.4inch (1cm) in diameter.


Baby’s breath plant can be found in different colors and shades: white, pink, purple. They look very pretty as boutonnieres and can be used as flower compositions and bouquets in summer gardens or as cut flowers.

The name Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila) itself means “love plaster”. This flower prefers soils rich in calcium and is often found in areas rich in limestone deposits. It grows well in the loosest of soils and blooms from late June until frost. It is hardy, non-critical, heat, and drought tolerant. It prefers open spaces in full sun.

Gypsophila grows easily from seed. If sown in spring, it germinates in two weeks and reaches its maximum size in that year. Some varieties bloom a month and a half after sowing, most others may not bloom until the next or third year.


Baby’s breath plants grow in the wild, usually not in the most comfortable places in the world – in mountainous or grassland areas. They grow up to 40inch (1m) tall. The stems are nodular, greenish-gray, and strongly branched at the top.

They form a beautiful globular shrub with delicate inflorescences and small white or white-pink flowers. During flowering, the fruit forms a small capsule with many seeds inside. The seeds are held firmly in the capsule and only fall out when vigorously shaken.

When the seeds mature, the stem dies and the wind carries the balloon plant a long way in the open, scattering the seeds. That is why this plant has a second name: “Tumbleweed”. Most species of Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila) are considered weeds, while others are used as ornamentals in floristics.

Gypsophila peninsula is one of the ornamental species. This plant is not only used as an original decoration for flower beds and bouquets but also as a medicinal plant in folk medicine. It may sound contradictory, but Gypsophila has been known since ancient times.

In biblical times and in the Middle Ages, plants were believed to have miraculous healing powers. Healing flowers and plants had a place in royal flower gardens.


Our ancestors valued Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila) not at all for its delicate beauty, but for its rather practical and useful properties in the home. baby’s Breath (Gypsophila) is a plant that was named in ancient times after the place where it grew – “soap root”.

In ancient times, the Levant was the name of the country located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. The roots of Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila) are rich in saponins, which are complex organic compounds with surfactant properties.

The name of these substances comes from the Latin word “Saponins”, meaning “soap.” The aqueous solution of “soap root” forms a strong lather when shaken, which cleans the fabric and absorbs grease during the washing process.

Our ancestors used “soap root” to clean particularly delicate and expensive items. It is worth noting that “soap root” is similar to soap in the name. Unlike soap, it does not contain alkali.


The plant’s roots form a thick lather, a property that also helps produce refreshing fizzy drinks and beer. The plant is also used as a medicinal plant because its saponins have, among other properties, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, expectorant, and thinner phlegm properties. It plays an active role in many biochemical processes in the human body.

Nowadays, Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila) is rarely used as a medicinal plant. However, its medicinal properties allow it to be used in the fight against leukemia. British scientists have studied the useful properties of this plant and are working on experimental methods to fight leukemia and cancer.

Experiments have shown that baby’s breath plant extract can increase the effect of the drug on the human body. By disrupting the cell membranes of malignant tumors, it facilitates the penetration of anti-cancer drugs into the affected cells.

Currently, at least 35 species of garden Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila) are cultivated, which vary in flower shape, color, and stem height. The tallest variety can reach a height of 60inch (1.5m) and the lowest, with a stalk, 12inch (30cm).

The flowers range in color from snow white to various shades of pink, from white, which turns pink when in bloom, to deep, deep pink. They are bred commercially in Ecuador, England, Holland, and Israel. The short production of Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila) has made Ecuador the main supplier of these flowers.

This is Baby's breath plant for the dry flower
This is Baby’s breath plant for the dry flower

In addition to the traditional colored flowers (from white to various shades of pink), Ecuador also grows and exports the unusual baby’s breath plant. the newly selected variety Gypsophila has many flowers in one branch, bright and hairy color.

The secret of the pot is to cultivate plants of various colors and shades that exist in nature: green, blue, purple, red, orange, blue. Multicolored plants are obtained by watering them with dyed water. The technique was recently developed by Dutch florist Peter van Walken. The dyed water enters the flower along the stem and produces flowers of the desired shade.


Gypsophila panicula was first introduced to England as a garden plant in 1760. Since then, it has been a constant love of gardeners and florists. In the United States, Gypsophila emerged in the early 19th century.

At that time, many of the plants that had delighted Victorian English gardeners arrived in North American gardens with the settlers. Gardeners and poets simply could not get enough of the delicate baby’s breath plant.

This flower was the most revered because in the Victorian “language of flowers” it symbolized eternal love, purity, and innocence. They were described as “flowers of amazing delicacy…”

Growing flowers were used to build lace canopies, they were used to decorate rooms, and their vitality was the most valuable quality in cut flowers at the time, especially by amateur gardeners. The flower gardens that existed in Victorian times helped create a complex list of meanings to describe the beloved flowers.


On the other hand, wild varieties of Gypsophila were brought to the United States by Russian and Ukrainian settlers along with flax and wheat seeds. They have adapted perfectly to the favorable conditions of the savanna and until now have been a real demon for American farmers’ farmland.

Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila) brings amazing finality and integrity to any bouquet. Even large bouquets, such as lilies or dahlias, become ethereal and exceptionally delicate when combined with Baby’s Breath plant.

The role of Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila) in a bouquet can be defined as anything: a smoky plant, a companion plant, but without them, the floral “performance” would be much lost.

In the gentle mist, flowering baby’s breath plants such as roses, lilies, tall periwinkles, and dark annuals are extremely striking as soloists in brightly colored floral designs.

Most varieties of plants with very small flowers are widely used for dried flowers, especially at Christmas, as well as for decorating things and crafts. Hollow, see-through, mostly used as a complement to bouquets to highlight greenery and fill the gaps between flowers with an unobtrusive transparent background.


Baby’s breath plant can be dried and stored for a long time in this form, and used for winter arrangements and dried bouquets as needed. Hang the flowers upside down in a dark, warm, well-ventilated room and tie five to seven stems together with string or rubber bands.

After a week and a few days, check the condition of the flowers. If they feel like paper and are dry, they are ready to use. If they haven’t dried to a paper-like state, you need to give them a few more days. It is best to dry them before the end of the flowering period when the stems of the plant are at their maximum strength.

You can also dry the flowers together with their seed pods and dye them red, gold or silver. Such pieces are invariably popular as New Year and Christmas decorations.

The new flower arrangement trend suggests using Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila) as the main or sole flower in a bridal bouquet; they look surprisingly tender. When many thin, airy flower branches are placed together, you get a lush, airy cloud that can only be described with the adjectives “sweet” and “lovely”.

We all know that Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila) flowers are super affordable, but few people ever think that Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila) flowers are very beautiful.

They were once considered “filler” for bouquets, but for some time now, this flower has taken center stage at many stunning weddings, and we’re happy to be able to tell you about it.


Although, if you think that Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila) is a cheap and very affordable flower choice for a celebration, think about the fact that due to their small size, you will have to buy more of them than some other flowers to create really beautiful decorations.

However, it is worth the effort to end up with exquisite and delicate room decorations that highlight the elegance and charm of the bride and the special significance of the event.

It is very sad that for many years Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila) is not considered a separate bouquet and is only used as a compliment.

But in this capacity, Gypsophila is second to none. Indeed, Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila) is a good choice as a romantic, rustic style hair decorative element to use on a corsage or necklace.

It’s perfect romantic decoration and a great choice for holiday table decorations. You can make an original decoration: a bouquet or garland in the shape of a balloon.

Woven from many small white flowers, they will be a delight to the eyes throughout the holiday season. Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila) is one of the hardiest flowers, which retains its fresh look after cutting. Looking for full blooms in Vladivostok?


Don’t skimp on flowers on the day of the celebration! Is there a more beautiful sight than a bridesmaid holding a bouquet of snow-white flowers? With a bouquet as delicate and white as the first snow in the morning, dazzling with its whiteness!

Besides the fact that white coincides with any color palette and gives room for imagination, it can be combined with anything! Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila) is an ideal flower for creative ideas. Its white flowers go well with mint, yellow and brown. It looks exceptionally festive in combination with blue.

How to choose Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila) for your bouquet? The best ones are those with half of the buds open, which are both open and closed. Do not buy branches that show signs of darkening flowers. The stems should be packed dry to give the flowers time to rehydrate before they start working.

General tip: Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila) should have slender, silky, green stems. The flowers are fluffy and white, and the buds are firm. Before launching, gently shake the bouquet to straighten the stems and increase airflow. Remove any foliage that will be below the waterline.

Trim stems underwater with a sharp knife. Dissolve water containing fungicide and flower food in warm water about two hours prior to use. Additional Note: Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila) is very hardy and long-lived, but must be placed in a location with high relative humidity to avoid stem dieback.

Flowers, herbs, and various plants have brought much joy to people for thousands of years because their beauty has the unique ability to improve the mood of those who are sick or sad. The scent of flowers can make beautiful perfumes, the delicate leaves can be used in medicine and food, and the spicy, strong fragrance can lift the mood.

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