Gypsophila Rosenschleier

Gypsophila 'Rosenschleier', also known as Gypsophila 'Rosy Veil', is a spectacular plant, undoubtedly the best of the baby's breath plants. It is a vigorous perennial, forming a dense and compact cushion. Its dome disappears beneath an abundance of double flowers, which are initially white before turning candy pink. The numerous inflorescences form airy clouds. This variety tolerates winter humidity better than others. It is perfect in light soils, in the sun, and is ideal for rockeries or borders.

'Rosenschleier' baby's breath belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family. It is a hybrid resulting from the cross-breeding of G. paniculata and G. repens. The plant has a creeping and dense habit, spreading out in a flat dome. It will reach 50cm (20in) in height, gradually spreading to 40cm (16in) in width or more. Flowering takes place from June to July, until August if the soil remains slightly moist, in the form of numerous double pompom flowers, which are initially white before turning pink with age. The flowers are arranged in large panicles measuring 25 to 45cm (10 to 18in) wide. The plant disappears under a mist of pink and white, both very bright and extremely light. The blue-green evergreen to semi-evergreen foliage is composed of small linear, fleshy leaves, 1 to 3cm (1in) long, carried by first prostrate, then ascending stems.

'Rosenschleier' baby's breath has its place in scree gardens, and in beds with light and well-exposed soil, among salvias, old roses, and perennials like oriental poppies or gaura. This plant particularly enhances large-flowered perennials such as Iris germanica. Around shrubby peonies, it will form a misty carpet from which the shrub laden with flowers and insects will emerge, like a vision of paradise. This plant is ideal in dry gardens, in rockeries, as a wall covering, or on sunny embankments where it will play its role as a ground cover perfectly. This baby's breath also adapts very well to containers. Finally, it is a beautiful flower for dried or fresh bouquets.