Gypsophila repens Rosa Schönheit

Gypsophila repens 'Rosa Schönheit', also known as Creeping Baby's Breath, is a vigorous perennial groundcover plant. Its fine and slightly thick semi-evergreen foliage is a medium blue-green colour. In summer, it is covered with a cloud of dark pink star-shaped flowers, larger than usual for the genus, giving the plant an airy appearance. It is a drought-tolerant perennial, preferring light soils. It is deal for rock gardens, sunny embankments, in crevices, and on walls, where it cascades in vaporous draperies. 

'Rosa Schönheit' belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family. It is native to the mountains of Europe, particularly the Iberian Peninsula, France, the Apennine Peninsula, and Eastern Central Europe. The plant has a spreading, cushion-like habit. Its mature size will not exceed 20cm (8in) in height and 40cm (16in) in width, or even more. The flowering period occurs from May to August if the soil remains slightly moist, with numerous dark pink five-petalled flowers. The flowers are arranged in cymes, creating an aesthetic and extremely light mist-like effect. The semi-evergreen to evergreen foliage is a medium blue-green colour and composed of small, fleshy, opposite, glabrous leaves measuring 1 to 3cm (1in), carried by initially prostrate, then ascending, knee-jointed stems.

'Rosa Schönheit' has its place in scree gardens, and in beds with light well-drained soil. Plant it among salvias, old roses, and robust perennials such as oriental poppies or gaura. This plant particularly enhances large-flowered perennials like German iris. It will form a mist-like carpet at the base of shrub peonies. Ideal in dry gardens, rockeries, or on sunny embankments where it will perfectly fulfil its role as ground cover. This gypsophila also adapts very well to containers and flower pots.