Flower · GBIF taxon 5384458
baby's-breath
Gypsophila paniculataAlso known as Common Gypsophila, Panicled Baby's-breath
Mounds of wiry, branching stems bloom in midsummer, covering dry landscapes with dense clouds of tiny, five-petaled white flowers. Deep taproots anchor these resilient perennials in poor, sandy, or calcareous soils, allowing them to withstand prolonged droughts. In autumn, brittle mature plants snap at the base and roll across open ground as tumbleweeds, broadcasting thousands of seeds on the wind.
FloweringPerennialDrought-Tolerant
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
Not available
ThreatsInvasive weed eradication measures in introduced ranges
HabitatsDry steppes, sandy fields, roadsides, coastal dunes
Life spanPerennial (5–20 years)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderCaryophyllales
- FamilyCaryophyllaceae
- GenusGypsophila
- SpeciesGypsophila paniculata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Contains saponins toxic to dogs and cats if ingested; keep pets from chewing on stems.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains triterpenoid saponins that irritate the digestive tract of pets, causing vomiting and salivation.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognized by its cloud of small white flowers on thin branching stems and narrow opposite leaves.
- What to do
- Keep cut flower arrangements out of reach of pets and clear away dry fallen debris.
Responsible observation
- Dried Arrangements: Cut flowering stems near full bloom and hang upside down in a cool, dark room to dry.
- Identification Cues: Look for cloud-like masses of tiny white blossoms on delicate, highly branched stems.
- Garden Control: Deadhead spent flowers before seed set to prevent unintended spread into nearby soils.
Close Relative (c) Natubico, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Family Member (c) Bernd Haynold, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Family Member (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
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