Gypsophilia cerastoides Pretty Maid

Description

Gypsophila cerastoides ‘Pretty Maid’ – alpine baby’s breath

Botanical name: Gypsophila cerastoides ‘Pretty Maid’
Common names: Alpine baby’s breath, mouse-ear gypsophila
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Plant type: Evergreen alpine perennial
Habit: Low, mat-forming
Pot size: 1 litre pot
Eventual size: Approx. 5cm tall × 20–30cm spread
Foliage: Small, soft green leaves forming a low mat; evergreen
Flowers: Saucer-shaped white flowers delicately veined pink, late spring to summer (May–July)
Scent: Not scented
Aspect / light: Full sun
Soil: Sharply drained, gritty; tolerates lime; neutral to alkaline
Hardiness: RHS H5 (hardy, to about −15°C); USDA zones 4–8
Exposure: Open, sunny; dislikes winter wet
Native range: Himalaya
Toxicity / pet & child safety: Low toxicity; may cause mild stomach upset if eaten by cats or dogs, and the sap can occasionally irritate skin

Gypsophila cerastoides ‘Pretty Maid’ is a low, mat-forming alpine with soft green foliage smothered in late spring and summer by saucer-shaped white flowers delicately veined in pink. Perfect for rockeries, troughs and the front of sunny, well-drained borders.

GardenAdvice notes

A compact, mat-forming evergreen alpine from the Himalaya, this dwarf gypsophila hugs the ground and flowers generously over a neat cushion of foliage. It thrives in the lean, sharply drained conditions of a rockery or trough and, like others in the pink family, appreciates a limy, gritty soil.

Growing & planting

Plant in spring in full sun with very sharp drainage — a gritty, free-draining or alkaline soil is ideal, and heavy ground should be improved with plenty of grit. It is well suited to rockeries, troughs, raised beds and the tops of walls. Space about 25cm apart.

Care & maintenance

Low-maintenance. Water while establishing, then only in prolonged drought. Avoid rich feeding, which produces soft, floppy growth, and keep the crown dry over winter. A light trim after flowering keeps the mat neat and compact.

Propagation

• Cuttings: Take softwood cuttings in early summer, rooting them in gritty compost.
• Seed: Sow in spring in a gritty, free-draining mix.
• Division: Carefully divide established mats in spring.

Pests & diseases

Generally trouble-free. The main risk is rot from winter wet or heavy, poorly drained soil. Otherwise it is little troubled by pests or disease when given the sharp drainage it needs.

Uses in the garden

Ideal for sunny rockeries, alpine troughs and pans, raised beds, gravel gardens, dry stone walls and the front edge of well-drained borders.

Wildlife value

The open, saucer-shaped flowers provide accessible nectar for bees, hoverflies and other small pollinating insects.

Toxicity & safety

Baby’s breath has a low level of toxicity: if eaten it may cause mild stomach upset in cats and dogs, and handling can occasionally irritate sensitive skin. It is best kept out of reach of pets inclined to chew plants.

GardenAdvice tip

Sharp drainage is the secret with this little alpine — it will rot in a wet winter on heavy soil, so plant it in grit, on a slope or in a raised trough where water drains away fast. A topdressing of gravel around the neck of the plant keeps the foliage dry and the flowers clean.

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