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PLANT OF THE WEEK
NEW Gypsophilla paniculata"Festival Star."
This plant is in the same family as Carnations and is also known as chalk plant and soap root.
Some (baby’s breath) of the species have edible roots, and the plants and roots are also grown for and used as a medical ingredient.
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Baby's breath. |
Weird names aside the plant is very decorative and is used as a cut flower to give a delicate look in arrangements and bouquets.
I'm talking with Karen Smith, editor of Hort Journal www.hortjournal.com.au and Jeremy Critchley, The Green Gallery wholesale nursery owner. www.thegreengallery.com.au
The scientific name of Baby’s breath – ‘Gypsophila’ – comes from the words ‘gypsos’ and ‘philos’, meaning ‘gypsum’ and ‘loving’ respectively in Greek.
Festival Star is a compact but sturdy baby's breath that is covered with dense sprays of small
white flowers from late Spring.to late Summer.
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Gypsophila Festival Star |
These herbaceous perennial plants bear tall, airy panicles covered with hundreds of tiny double white flowers, often blushed with pink.
They form a dense mound growing 30 - 45 cm tall and 45 - to 60 cm wide and is great on the sunny, well-drained border.
Cut back the faded flower stems before they set seed as plants have a tendency to lightly self-sow.
Baby’s breath is difficult to transplant because it has a deep tap root, so plant it where it won’t be disturbed.
What could be more gorgeous than a combination of Gypsophila and red roses in a vase?
In the garden you could combine
it with balloon flowers, dwarf lilies and low growing sedum for a great floral
combination.
