Fauna
Plant

Showy Baby's-breath

Gypsophila elegans

Also known as Annual Baby's-breath, Covent Garden Baby's-breath, Showy Gypsophila

Showy baby's-breath produces airy, cloud-like sprays of delicate white or pale pink blossoms throughout early summer. Its slender, dichotomously branched stems and glaucous blue-green leaves create a light, ethereal texture that attracts hoverflies and tiny solitary bees. Native to the mountain slopes and steppes of eastern Europe and western Asia, this fast-growing annual has become a beloved favorite in cottage gardens and floral arrangements worldwide.

FloweringAnnualPollinator-Friendly
Showy Baby's-breath reference1 / 7
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (Photosynthesis)
Predators
  • Slugs
  • Snails
  • Aphids
ThreatsHabitat alteration in native ranges, garden escape competition
HabitatsSteppes, open hillsides, rocky slopes, cultivated gardens
Life span1 year (Annual)
Classification
  1. OrderCaryophyllales
  2. FamilyCaryophyllaceae
  3. GenusGypsophila
  4. SpeciesGypsophila elegans
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Contains mild saponins that cause upset stomachs in pets if ingested; avoid consumption.
Responsible observation
  • Gardening: Sow seeds directly outdoors in early spring for continuous summer blooms.
  • Observation: Look closely at the five-petaled blossoms to spot visiting hoverflies.
  • Arrangements: Cut flowering stems just as the first buds open to maximize vase life.
Related species
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