Gypsophila elegans Kermesina seeds

Gypsophila elegans 'Kermesina' is a variety of annual Baby's Breath selected for its carmine pink flowering, more colourful than other cultivars. The plant produces a multitude of graceful small flowers that form a sort of cloud in summer. This delicate flowering is highly prized in fresh or dried bouquets.

Gypsophila elegans 'Kermesina', commonly called annual baby's breath or elegant gypsophila, belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family. The wild botanical species is native to Eastern Europe and Western Asia, particularly the Caucasus regions, where it grows naturally in open meadows and well-drained soils.

The 'Kermesina' cultivar is distinguished by its deep carmine pink flowers, much more colourful than those of the typical species, as well as its abundant flowering. This annual plant with a rapid life cycle forms a bushy, branching clump, reaching about 40 to 50 cm in height and 30 to 40 cm in width. Its foliage is composed of linear to lanceolate, greyish green leaves, arranged opposite along the stems. The inflorescences appear in summer, between June and August, or even until September, depending on the sowing date and climatic conditions. They take the form of loose panicles bearing a multitude of small star-shaped flowers, measuring 5 to 7 mm in diameter. These flowers are borne on long, thin stems, giving the plant a light and airy appearance. After flowering, the plant produces dry capsules containing small black seeds, which ripen in late summer. These seeds can be harvested for later sowings. This plant does not self-seed significantly.

Gypsophila elegans 'Kermesina' is a graceful annual, ideal for bringing a light and colourful touch to borders, flowerbeds and floral compositions. Its lightness is a good accompaniment to the roundness of roses, in the garden and in a vase. It softens lines, fills gaps between perennials and brings a touch of romantic blur to colourful scenes. Its flowering marries wonderfully with the lavender blue of Love-in-a-mist 'Miss Jekyll Blue', the upright spikes of Clary Sage 'Pink Sundae', or the yellow pompoms of Craspedia globosa 'Golf Beauty' for a modern and bright contrast. It is also perfect for country bouquets, fresh or dried. It is also entirely feasible to grow it in a pot.

Despite its fragile appearance, this Baby's Breath is easy to grow. Plant it in the sun, in a not too rich, well-drained soil. It is undemanding, even growing in limestone (in Latin, Gypsophila means "lover of chalk"). Once established, it needs little care and little watering.