Gypsophila paniculata
| Gypsophila paniculata | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 4 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 4' |
| Width: | 3' |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Late Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Gypsophila paniculata (common name: baby's breath)
Propagation: Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse in spring. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and, if growth is sufficient, plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer. If the plants are too small to plant out, grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter and then plant them out in late spring or early summer.
Division in spring or autumn. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.
Basal cuttings before the plant flowers. Harvest the shoots when they are about 10cm long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.
Root cuttings.
Cultivation: Requires a sunny position and a well-drained dryish soil[1][2]. Plants are not long-lived in wet or heavy soils[3]. A lime tolerant plant[1], it prefers a limey soil according to another report[3]. Plants are intolerant of winter damp[2] but tolerate drought once established[3].
A very ornamental plant[1], it is hardy to about -20c[2].
Range: Europe. An occasional garden escape in Britain.
Habitat: Dry sandy and stony places, in steppe where it grows with large tufted species of Stipa grasses[3], north to latitude 57°n[4].
Medicinal: Purgative[5].
The root contains triterpenoid saponins and these have spermicidal activity[6].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: Although no mention has been seen for this species, at least one member of this genus has a root that is rich in saponins[7]. Although toxic, these substances are very poorly absorbed by the body and so tend to pass through without causing harm[8]. They
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Chatto, Beth. The Damp Garden. Dent, 1982.
- ↑ Tutin, Tom et al.. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, 1964.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Frohne, Dietrich and Hans Pfänder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Timber Press, 1984.