PURE ROMANCE FOR YOUR GARDEN | 'Creeping Gypsophila' (Gypsophila repens)

When Natalie from the German blog Wildes Gartenherz (Wild Garden Heart) asked me if she could write a profile about this plant for My Cottage Garden, I was forced to take a closer look at it for the first time. And I ended up hugely impressed by both, the plant and the wonderful suggestion from a guest writer.

And after reading it, I'm even more than merely 'impressed'.

All I've been able to think about for last couple of days is where I'm going to find space in my garden to plant Gypsophila repens 'Rosenschleier'...

Over to Natalie!

Creeping Gypsophila/Gypsophila Repens 'Rosenschleier'

I'll admit, this one doesn't quite have the most attractive name... Creeping gypsophila. It's sometimes also called creeping baby's breath, but that's not much better, is it? I can promise you, though, that adding some gypsophila to your garden isn't going to send a cold shiver down your spine. Quite the opposite!

This perennial has the power to bring any romantic to their knees.

It isn't just that it looks incredible... No, creeping gypsophila has real gumption. I particularly like the 'Rosenschleier' variant, because white is so yesterday. I'm all about pink right now!

The name Rosenschleier means rose veil in English. And it somehow fits. Rosenschleier does create a rosy veil in your garden. A veil made up of thousands of little flowers. From a distance, Rosenschleier has an incredible impact.

It'll really thrive in rockeries or alpine gardens because and make itself right at home. Its sweet little tentacles will crawl right into your other plants, using them as support. Come to think of it, this might be where it gets the "creeping" part of its name from.

This year it got hold of my coneflower and slowly started to absorb it.

Despite all that, Rosenschleier isn't a pest and it doesn't spread out in an uncontrollable way.

And if you're really lazy, you can always reach in and pull it out with your hand when it starts to get too big. It comes loose as easily as cotton candy and instantly looks as good as new. It doesn't mind a good rejuvenation prune either.

You can plant Rosenschleier directly in your borders. It's the perfect thing to place around the edge of your flower beds if you want to conceal unattractive edging stones.

This year I found myself standing in front of my Rosenschleier, pondering: how on earth does this plant photosynthesize? All I could see were flowers and insects. No leaves. They were hidden somewhere under that veil of flowers.

A year in the life of Rosenschleier

Rosenschleier looks great all year round. Although, naturally, it reaches its peak between June and August. It often flowers earlier than that and for longer. Come fall, while the stonecrop is doing its thing, your Rosenschleier will start to retreat ready for its winter break, during which time it fully retracts. It is covered in little capsules that are pretty nice to look at. During the winter, your Rosenschleier will glisten from your flower beds, especially when the sun shines.

Plant Facts

· Part of the Caryophyllaceae family

· Grows nice and bushy

· Ultimate spread of approx. 25cm (10")

· Ultimate height of approx. 40cm (16")

· Small flowers (under 5cm/2")

· Light pink flowers

· Flowers from June to August

· Straight leaves with pointed tips

· Partial shade or full sun

· Prefers regular garden soil

· Retracts in the winter

Plants to pair with Rosenschleier

Choosing plants to pair with Rosenschleier is a slightly unusual process.

You're going to need something strong, like giant hyssops or other rock plants. Catnip and anemones work really well. I can also suggest partners like the round-headed leak, they start to look a little less attractive after/during flowering because they've got a lot of greenery.

You can create a real romantic paradise in the spring if you pair it with tall pastel-colored tulips. And of course – which should come as no surprise – Rosenschleier gypsophila looks beautiful with roses. These combinations are already pretty dreamy but if you really want to make a statement, you can plant quaking grass (Briza media) in between.

Advantages of Rosenschleier

· Low-maintenance

· Long flowering period

· Paradise for bees and insects

· Likes dry locations

· Tolerates any type of soil

· Possible to propagate from cuttings

· Not much fertilizer required

· Not a lot of watering required

Other Variants

If you're into Rosenschleier then you'll probably like other pink-colored variants of creeping gypsophila, such as the 'Rosea' variant. It's a bit smaller than Rosenschleier, only reaching heights of 10 to 20cm (4" to 8") and it's perfect for green roofs and filling the gaps in a dry-stone wall.

If you're looking for a really big plant, then look no further than baby's breath 'Flamingo' (Gypsophila paniculata). This gypsophila variant can grow to be up to 1.2 meters (4 feet) tall.

Conclusion

Rosenschleier is perfect for true romantics on the hunt for a low-maintenance perennial. It definitely deserves a spot in any wild garden.