Covent Garden Baby's Breath is a single-flowered annual that produces clouds of delicate pure white blooms on upright stems, reaching 18 to 24 inches tall. A cottage garden classic beloved for fresh and dried floral arrangements, this heirloom variety germinates quickly and blooms within 56 to 70 days from seed. It thrives in full sun, attracts pollinators, and once established, handles drought well despite its preference for consistent moisture during growth. The airy, cloud like flowers make it an essential filler for any cutting garden.
Full Sun
High
3-10
24in H x 12in W
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High
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Each stem is crowded with tiny, pristine white flowers that create an ethereal, almost cloud like effect in bouquets and garden beds. Covent Garden blooms reliably from summer into fall, providing weeks of fresh material for cutting without diminishing its garden display. The variety germinates in as little as 7 to 14 days and reaches flowering maturity in under two months, making it quick enough for successive sowings throughout the season. Its drought tolerance once rooted means established plants reward you with abundant blooms even when water is scarce.
Covent Garden Baby's Breath is grown almost exclusively for cutting, both for fresh arrangements and dried flowers. Harvest the stems when roughly two thirds to three quarters of the blooms on each spray are open but before any begin browning, then condition them in water with a few drops of bleach to extend their vase life. The airy texture makes it invaluable as a filler in mixed bouquets, wedding arrangements, and dried floral designs. Frequent cutting actually encourages more blooms and prevents unwanted seed formation, creating a virtuous cycle for the cutting gardener.
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Start seeds indoors in containers 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds barely covered or at a depth of 1/8 inch on sterile seedling mix and keep at about 70°F. Expect germination between 7 and 14 days. Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after your last frost date when the soil has warmed. Space plants 8 to 12 inches apart. Water gently and keep consistently moist for the first few weeks until plants are established.
Direct sow seeds in early spring as soon as soil can be worked, and sow again at 3 week intervals until June for successive blooms throughout the season. Scatter seeds barely covered or at 1/8 inch depth directly into prepared garden soil.
Harvest Covent Garden Baby's Breath in the early morning when flowers are freshest and petals are just opening. Cut stems when roughly 2 thirds to 3 quarters of the blooms on each spray are open but before any petals have browned. Use a clean knife dipped in a 10% bleach solution to make cuts. Frequent harvesting encourages more blooms and prevents seed formation. Condition cut stems by placing them in water with a few drops of bleach to prolong their beauty in the vase.
No pruning is necessary beyond regular harvesting. Frequent cutting of flower stems actually encourages bushier growth and more blooms while preventing the plant from setting seed. Simply remove stems as they reach harvestable stage, cutting with a clean knife dipped in a 10% bleach solution to prevent disease transmission.
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“Gypsophila elegans, commonly called Baby's Breath, has a long history in European cottage gardens, and the Covent Garden cultivar carries the legacy of London's historic flower market heritage. The Covent Garden market, renowned for centuries as a source of fresh cut flowers for the city's florists and homes, inspired the naming of this particular strain. As an heirloom annual, this variety has been treasured and passed along by gardeners and growers specifically for its prolific white blooms and reliability, becoming synonymous with traditional floral design and hand tied bouquets. Its preservation reflects the deep connection between working flower growers and the varieties they cultivated year after year.”