Gypsophila elegans 'Covent Garden' - Annual - Covent Garden Babys Breath, Showy Baby's-breath Page

Gypsophila elegans 'Covent Garden' or Covent Garden Baby's Breath is a stunning annual plant with large white blossoms that add beauty to any garden or floral arrangement. Native to Asia and Europe, this showy baby's-breath plant has become naturalized in North America.

Featuring blue-green linear-lanceolate leaves up to 3 inches long, Covent Garden Baby's Breath grows to a height of 18 inches. It is a short-lived plant with a lifespan of about 5-6 weeks, making it an excellent choice for teaching about the life cycle of plants in classrooms.

The flowers of this plant are highly prized by florists, who use them as fillers in bouquets. They are also perfect for rock gardens and add a touch of elegance to any landscape. The profuse single white flowers, each up to 1/2 inch across, are incredibly showy and eye-catching.

To ensure continuous blooming, it is recommended to sow new seeds every 3-4 weeks. In the greenhouse, Covent Garden Baby's Breath blooms in just 4 weeks from seed, making it an ideal plant for children to grow and observe.

For optimal growth, Covent Garden Baby's Breath requires full sun to light shade and prefers slightly acidic soil. A soil mix of 2 parts peat moss, 1 part loam, and 1 part sand or perlite works well. Adding hydrated lime and slow-release fertilizer to the soil mix will help maintain the pH balance and provide essential nutrients.

Regular watering is necessary, allowing the soil to slightly dry between waterings. While the plant is actively growing, a balanced fertilizer diluted to half the recommended strength is applied weekly. Once the plants set bloom, fertilization is discontinued. After seed set, the plant is left to die off, making way for the next batch of blooming plants.

Propagation of Covent Garden Baby's Breath is best done through seed. Its versatility and beauty have earned it the recognition of being featured as the Plant of the Week in November 2007.

For more information about this captivating plant, please visit the USDA website at http://plants.usda.gov.