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Gypsophila paniculata
  • Baby's Breath

a perennial member of the Gypsophila genus in the family Caryophyllaceae.

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Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 4
    Zone 4
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Gypsophila paniculata has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

Although no mention has been seen for this species, at least one member of this genus has a root that is rich in saponins[1]. Although toxic, these substances are very poorly absorbed by the body and so tend to pass through without causing harm[2]. They are also broken down by heat so a long slow baking can destroy them. Saponins are found in many plants, including several that are often used for food, such as certain beans. It is advisable not to eat large quantities of food that contain saponins. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish[K].

Edible uses

There are no edible uses listed for Gypsophila paniculata.

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Gypsophila paniculata.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Purgative[3]. The root contains triterpenoid saponins and these have spermicidal activity[4].

Unknown part

Contraceptive
Purgative

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

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.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Gypsophila paniculata. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a sunny position and a well-drained dryish soil[5][6]. Plants are not long-lived in wet or heavy soils[7]. A lime tolerant plant[5], it prefers a limey soil according to another report[7]. Plants are intolerant of winter damp[6] but tolerate drought once established[7]. A very ornamental plant[5], it is hardy to about -20c[6].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Gypsophila paniculata. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Gypsophila paniculata.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Gypsophila paniculata
Genus
Gypsophila
Family
Caryophyllaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
Medicinal uses
[3][4]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[8][9]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
4
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
  • Drought
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
None listed.
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
?
Herbaceous or Woody
?
Life Cycle
perennial
Growth Rate
?
Mature Size
1.2 x 1 meters
Fertility
?
Pollinators
Insects
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
hermaphrodite

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"image:Illustration Gypsophila paniculata0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Illustration Gypsophila paniculata0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


"image:Illustration Gypsophila paniculata0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Illustration Gypsophila paniculata0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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References

  1. ? Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
  2. ? Frohne. D. and Pf?nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe ISBN 0723408394 (1984-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.1 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.15.2 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
  6. ? 6.06.16.2 Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books ISBN 0-330-30936-9 (1991-00-00)
  7. ? 7.07.17.2 Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent ISBN 0460045512 (1982-00-00)
  8. ? ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press (1964-00-00)
  9. ? Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)

"image:Illustration Gypsophila paniculata0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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Facts about "Gypsophila paniculata"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyCaryophyllaceae +
Belongs to genusGypsophila +
Has common nameBaby's Breath +
Has drought toleranceTolerant +
Has environmental toleranceDrought +
Has fertility typeInsects +
Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
Has hardiness zone4 +
Has imageIllustration Gypsophila paniculata0.jpg +
Has lifecycle typePerennial +
Has mature height1.2 +
Has mature width1 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useContraceptive + and Purgative +
Has primary imageIllustration Gypsophila paniculata0.jpg +
Has search namegypsophila paniculata + and x +
Has shade toleranceNo shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomy nameGypsophila paniculata +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +