For flower farmers, baby’s breath has been very popular for quite a few years. But homegrown baby’s breath is nothing like the baby’s breath you find in the grocery store flower section! Homegrown baby’s breath has a more lyrical and delicate feel to it, and once you grow it successfully, you’ll never be without it.
Here are my quick tips for growing baby’s breath in a cold climate.
Direct Sowing Baby’s Breath
Baby’s breath is a one-and-done flower, meaning it blooms once and is finished, usually for about two weeks. To keep it going through the season, I recommend planting successions every two to three weeks.
You can start baby’s breath indoors, but I usually prefer to direct sow it. You can even sow it slightly later than your other hardy annuals! I find that staggering it helps space out the bloom time and keeps the stems long and usable.
The Covent Garden variety is my personal favourite.
I like to tuck baby’s breath in among other flowers, so I don’t give up too much space to a filler, but I still get to enjoy it throughout the garden.
That said, it can be a bit tricky to grow, especially if you’re hoping for long stems. I’ve had years where the plants were stunted or didn’t bloom well, and other years where they were absolutely stunning.
If you’re looking for something easier with a similar effect in bouquets, you might want to try saponaria instead. I find it a bit more reliable.
A Note About Perennial Baby’s Breath
Perennial baby’s breath (Gypsophila paniculata) is considered a noxious weed in many parts of North America, including Saskatchewan and Alberta. In fact, growing it in your garden can lead to hefty fines, and it’s illegal to plant it in several provinces!
It may be tempting to cut some from a roadside ditch or to compost leftover stems, but don’t do it! It spreads very easily, and you could accidentally introduce an invasive species to your own garden. If you’re not sure what type you’re looking at, check the Latin name to confirm that it’s an annual variety (Gypsophila elegans) before you plant.
Have any more questions about growing baby’s breath in Zone 3? Let me know in the comments!
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