Gypsophila (Baby's Breath) in Zone 3a & 3b
Gypsophila elegans
Yes, gypsophila (baby's breath) grows in zones 3a and 3b. Start seeds indoors Apr 11–Apr 18 and plant out Jun 6–Jun 13.
When to plant gypsophila (baby's breath) in zone 3b
Zones 3a and 3b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Either works.
| Start indoors | Apr 11–Apr 18 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Jun 6–Jun 13 |
| Estimated bloom | Aug 20–Aug 27 (~75 days after planting) |
Spacing: 2 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1.5-2 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 3b
These go outside within two weeks of gypsophila (baby's breath) in zone 3b, so one planting day can cover them.
- NasturtiumJun 6–Jun 13
- MarigoldJun 6–Jun 13
- Ageratum (Flossflower)Jun 6–Jun 13
- Annual Geranium (Pelargonium)Jun 6–Jun 13
- Butterfly Weed (Asclepias)Jun 6–Jun 13
- Campanula (Bellflower)Jun 6–Jun 13
Baby's breath is the classic airy filler flower, a cloud of tiny white blooms used to soften and fill out cut arrangements built around bigger, showier flowers. It's an easy annual, but an unusual one: it performs best in relatively poor soil, the opposite of what most cutting-garden flowers want.
How gypsophila (baby's breath) fits zone 3's season
Zone 3b's frost-free window runs about 98 days, from May 30 to September 5. Gypsophila (baby's breath) needs about 75 days from sowing to first bloom.
Gypsophila (Baby's Breath) planting windows in every zone
Zone 3b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Bloom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Apr 1–Apr 8 | May 27–Jun 3 | Aug 10–Aug 17 |
| 3a & 3b (your zone) | Apr 11–Apr 18 | Jun 6–Jun 13 | Aug 20–Aug 27 |
| 4a & 4b | Mar 27–Apr 3 | May 22–May 29 | Aug 5–Aug 12 |
| 5a & 5b | Mar 22–Mar 29 | May 17–May 24 | Jul 31–Aug 7 |
| 6a & 6b | Mar 7–Mar 14 | May 2–May 9 | Jul 16–Jul 23 |
| 7a & 7b | Feb 20–Feb 27 | Apr 17–Apr 24 | Jul 1–Jul 8 |
| 8a & 8b | Feb 4–Feb 11 | Apr 1–Apr 8 | Jun 15–Jun 22 |
| 9a & 9b | Dec 28–Jan 4 | Feb 22–Mar 1 | May 8–May 15 |
| 10a & 10b | Dec 12–Dec 19 | Feb 6–Feb 13 | Apr 22–Apr 29 |
| 11a & 11b | Nov 13–Nov 20 | Jan 8–Jan 15 | Mar 24–Mar 31 |
Bloom dates are about 75 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
No well-established companions for gypsophila (baby's breath).
Where to buy gypsophila seeds
True Leaf Market (each supplier's gypsophila seeds)
See why we recommend these suppliers →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page also go to other retailers we may earn a commission from as an affiliate, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products with a clear consensus of positive, independent reviews, or ones we bought and use ourselves. Each item on our gear page says which.
See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing gypsophila (baby's breath)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 3b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
%20in%20USDA%20zone%203b%3A%20when%20to%20start%20seeds%20indoors%2C%20when%20to%20direct-sow%2C%20and%20when%20to%20expect%20a%20bloom.)
Pin this for later
Growing Gypsophila (Baby's Breath) in USDA zone 3b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
Save to Pinterest