Gypsophila bungeana is a delicate and graceful perennial species native to Central Asia, particularly Kazakhstan and surrounding steppe and mountain regions. Unlike the common baby’s breath, this wild species forms tidy mounds of fine, blue-green foliage and produces airy sprays of small, starry white to pale pink flowers in late spring to early summer. Ideal for rock gardens and alpine plantings, Gypsophila bungeana thrives in full sun and sharply drained, gritty soil, especially in limestone or alkaline conditions. It is drought-tolerant once established and performs best in lean soils with minimal nutrients, making it perfect for crevices, gravel beds, and rocky slopes where it adds an ethereal lightness without overwhelming neighboring plants. Hardy in USDA Zones 4–8, it requires little maintenance beyond occasional deadheading and benefits from protection from winter wet in colder, wetter climates. A refined and resilient choice for adding texture and bloom to dry, sunny garden spaces.
This came to me via David Palmer, a long time member of the Columbia Willamette Chapter of NARGS, talented horticulturalist and now retired estate gardener, he got it from Dr. David Hale, who was a legend in a our rock garden club. I write this here because someday I want to remember where I got all the plants and while some of the members of the club are no long with us, the plants they championed remain as legacies to there horticultural prowess.
Gypsophila bungeana is a delicate and graceful perennial species native to Central Asia, particularly Kazakhstan and surrounding steppe and mountain regions. Unlike the common baby’s breath, this wild species forms tidy mounds of fine, blue-green foliage and produces airy sprays of small, starry white to pale pink flowers in late spring to early summer. Ideal for rock gardens and alpine plantings, Gypsophila bungeana thrives in full sun and sharply drained, gritty soil, especially in limestone or alkaline conditions. It is drought-tolerant once established and performs best in lean soils with minimal nutrients, making it perfect for crevices, gravel beds, and rocky slopes where it adds an ethereal lightness without overwhelming neighboring plants. Hardy in USDA Zones 4–8, it requires little maintenance beyond occasional deadheading and benefits from protection from winter wet in colder, wetter climates. A refined and resilient choice for adding texture and bloom to dry, sunny garden spaces.
This came to me via David Palmer, a long time member of the Columbia Willamette Chapter of NARGS, talented horticulturalist and now retired estate gardener, he got it from Dr. David Hale, who was a legend in a our rock garden club. I write this here because someday I want to remember where I got all the plants and while some of the members of the club are no long with us, the plants they championed remain as legacies to there horticultural prowess.
