Baby's Breath- May 2015 - MSU Extension Invasive Plants (2024)

FAQs

Is Baby's Breath invasive? ›

Like other invasive plants in the Top 12 for the region, baby's breath out-competes native plants and takes over their habitat, while providing no food or habitat for native wildlife.

Mowing before seed development will help to control baby's breath, but it will not kill it. Herbicides that contain metsulfuron methyl (e.g. Escort, Ally, Cimarron, Chaparral) are effective when applied during the bolt to pre-flower growth stage.

Baby's breath is native to Eurasia and was introduced to North America as an ornamental. It is a showy plant that is still used as an ornamental in some parts of the United States and is popular in the cut flower industry.

Flowers like hydrangeas and baby's breath, while popular in bouquets, are actually toxic. Even if you aren't eating the actual flowers, just contact with the buttercream frosting you will eat could be dangerous, so it's best to stick with flowers that are edible.

When Baby's breath invades grazing land, it reduces native grasses and forage for grazing animals and wildlife. When it develops seeds and matures, the plant breaks off at the ground and rolls long distances across the landscape with the ability to spread the over 10,000 seeds per plant!

Baby's breath is native in Europe. It is often used as a filler in flower arrangements. But it's considered an invasive threat to Michigan's majestic sand dunes, particularly along Lake Michigan.

Pruning Baby's Breath

After the second bloom, during the fall season, cut the stems of the perennial baby's breath to about one inch above the ground, for overwintering. The plant will come back in the spring.

While baby's breath plants don't require deadheading(a process in which you trim old blooms to encourage new growth), you may find that your baby's breath bushes need pruning to help the white flowers look their best around your other garden plants. Simply trim back stray branches to keep the bush the desired shape.

It is now found growing wild across North America and is featured in the noxious weed lists in a few states, including Washington and California.

Where does baby's breath grow naturally? ›

Gypsophila is native to the steppes of Europe and central to western Asia, and was often used as an ornamental in Victorian gardens. Also known as soap root in Europe, the roots of plants in this genus contain saponins, which foam and possess cleaning properties when mixed with water.

Baby Breaths / Gypsophila Name and Meanings

Baby's breath flowers are native to Eastern Europe. They are generally called Gypsophila. The reason why it is widely known as Baby's Breath is that it's charming and innocence look which resembles a little baby.

Toxic to both cats and dogs are Tulips, Azalea, Bird of Paradise, Aloe, Begonias, Baby's Breath, and Amaryllis.

Keep in mind that the entire baby's breath flowers are toxic to pets as well as to people. It is best when used as decorations instead of for consumption. Vomiting and diarrhea can occur when you eat baby's breath flowers.

Although urban legends can vary in their details, this one usually consists of a cat climbing into a crib with a baby and stealing its breath. Supposedly, this happens because either the cat is attracted to the milk scent on a baby's breath, or it is simply jealous that the owners are giving more attention to the baby.

Medicinal Facts

The baby's breath flower is very well-known for its possible anti-cancer fighting properties. Chemicals within the flower known as saponins have the ability to break down cancer cells, opening them up to being killed by anti-cancer drugs by up to a million-fold.

Never hesitate to reach out to your doctor if you're concerned about your baby's breathing. Irregular breathing can be very alarming and may cause anxiety in parents or caregivers. But first, slow down and look at your baby to see whether they look like they're in distress.

Baby's breath is a hardy shrub. It's a common joke among growers that the baby's breath plant is something even the worst flower growers can't kill. Fresh ones will last anywhere from 8-10 days, or more when properly cared for.

We do know that its original origins are from Europe and most likely made its way over to North American through humans. What we do know is that it is very established in the dune regions in Michigan and it is causing massive problems.

Baby's breath is a perennial that reproduces by seed only. It is native to Eastern Europe & western Asia and was likely introduced as an ornamental. It develops deep tap root that can extend to 4m1 allowing it to access deeper groundwater during periods of drought.

Is Baby's Breath a ground cover? ›

Gypsophila Repens (Gypsophila Repens White) - This Creeping Baby's Breath is a perennial white flowering variety that easily establishes from Gypsophila seeds. It is very low-growing, only reaching 6 inches, and it spreads making it a great option as a ground cover plant.

Baby's breath is a perennial; new plants come up every year from the same root system. It spreads via seeds, not a spreading root system, but one plant can produce well over 10,000 seeds.

Perennial Gypsophila Species

The frilly, double-petaled baby's breath found in flower shops is the most widely known perennial example. In addition to florist types, look for creeping varieties of perennial baby's breath with either pink or white blooms.

BABY'S BREATH

Only mildly toxic, ingestion can still lead to vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, and lethargy in your cat.

Sow seeds evenly and thinly in rows 9 inches apart and cover very lightly with ¼ inch of fine soil. Firm the soil lightly and keep it evenly moist. Seedlings will emerge in 10-14 days. Thin seedlings to 9 inches apart when they are 1 inch tall.

Baby's breath cold tolerance is pretty good, both in perennial and annual form. The annual varieties grow in zones 2 through 10, while the perennials will survive in zones 3 through 9. The annuals, of course, will not need to be overwintered.

While some like the scent, others complain that it is called baby's breath because it smells like spit. This is really a personal matter. Some like it, some don't, which is undoubtedly the case with most flowers. Just be sure that you take a whiff before you have multiple centerpieces and bouquets put together.

A baby's breath doesn't usually smell. That's because they have no teeth. Your teeth and tongue collect a myriad of things that can cause your breath to smell including food debris, sugars, and bacteria.

Unfortunately, you can't just throw wildflower seeds on grass, as the soil needs to be prepared before planting. It is best to remove as much grass as possible from the lawn before putting wildflower seeds down. To give your seeds a good start, it is better to plant them in early spring or fall.

Are wild flowers just weeds? ›

It's a matter of perception. Weeds are just rapidly spreading plants that have sprouted in a place where they're not wanted, and they are usually wildflowers. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a weed as “a plant that is not valued where it is growing and is usually of vigorous growth.”

Baby's breath (Gypsophila paniculata)

Baby's breath can be grown in containers or it can be planted directly in the ground. It can do well in dry, hot conditions. It will germinate within a week or two, and takes around 6-7 weeks to reach maturity.

The Good: Baby's breath is an inexpensive and affordable option for bridesmaids' bouquets or centerpieces. It's extremely hardy and has a long lifetime. This flower also offers a light, alluring and sweet look.

This boutonniere provides a more updated look with a single red rose surrounded by baby's breath.

Dogs or cats that consume enough hydrangea leaves, flowers and/or buds can suffer from vomiting and diarrhea. In severe cases, hydrangea poisoning can cause lethargy, depression and confusion.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals lists sunflowers as a non-toxic plant, meaning that your dog can eat an entire sunflower and not experience any health risks due to toxicity.

So how can you put baby's breath on a cake then? You can if you do so responsibly by ensuring it doesn't touch anything edible. But it's a cake – it's all edible! The work-around is using a disc of clear acetate or cellophane to act as a barrier between the flowers and the cake.

Flowers To Avoid: Lily Of The Valley, Daffodil, Poinsettia, Azaleas, Calla Lily, Hyacinth, Oleander, Wisteria, Rhododendron, Hydrangea, Mistletoe, Holly, Sweet Pea.

Cats should never consume lavender because it's toxic and can cause nausea and vomiting. Lavender plants contain linalool and linalyl acetate, which are poisons to cats because they can't process these compounds.

Why does my cat keep sniffing my baby? ›

Cats use their excellent sense of smell to help them know what belongs to them. They rub their faces on items around the home which then begin to smell of the cat (we cannot sense these smells at all) and thus become familiar and secure. New items with changing baby smells can also disrupt this familiarity.

Sunflowers are also generally considered non-toxic for cats, but veterinarians say they may cause minor stomach upset or vomiting if ingested.

Baby's breath spreads by seed with a single plant averaging 13,700 seeds. Seeds are wind dispersed and can travel great distances. It can also increase the number of stems per plant as the roots age and increase in diameter.

Despite its delicate-sounding name, baby's breath is an incredibly hardy and low-maintenance flower that is great for adding an airy, billowing element to your flower garden or rock garden.

Growing Baby's Breath is very easy, and they are quick to bloom. It is a popular flower to accent bouquets, corsages and flower vases. It also makes a great filler for at-home gardens. These plants bear an abundance of white or pink flowers.

paniculata, aka common or panicled baby's breath, is a tall perennial that grows a 13-feet-long storage taproot. Small white or pink flowers bloom from the summer to fall, and this species is the favorite among florists. Most cultivars are hardy in Zones 4-9. G.

It is now found growing wild across North America and is featured in the noxious weed lists in a few states, including Washington and California.

Baby's breath is a perennial; new plants come up every year from the same root system. It spreads via seeds, not a spreading root system, but one plant can produce well over 10,000 seeds. Plants become brittle, break and roll like tumbleweeds, spreading seeds.

The plant is attractive to many varieties of butterfly and also is known to attract bees. The variety, Coven Garden, was introduced in 1936 by the Grand Junction Seed Company of Colorado. Baby's Breath is heat, drought and soil tolerant, but flourishes most in friable soils that are rich in calcium.

Baby's breath is a hardy shrub. It's a common joke among growers that the baby's breath plant is something even the worst flower growers can't kill. Fresh ones will last anywhere from 8-10 days, or more when properly cared for.

Do butterflies like baby's breath? ›

Baby's Breath 101

In ideal conditions, Gypsophila offers several flushes of blooms from late spring to fall, attracting butterflies all the while.

Baby's breath plants grow best in full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight on most days. But they will tolerate a bit of shade, especially from the hot afternoon sun. However, too much shade will result in leggy plants and poor flowering.

Toxic to both cats and dogs are Tulips, Azalea, Bird of Paradise, Aloe, Begonias, Baby's Breath, and Amaryllis.

Remove any foliage that still remains the following spring. This is usually very minimal. WHAT ARE SOME NICE COMPANION PLANTS? Peonies, monarda, digitalis, delphinium, scabiosa, campanula, dianthus, and hardy geranium make nice companions.