My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Gypsophila - Baby’s breath, soap wort, Gyp, Gypsophila

Gypsophila

I used mainly Gypsophila and twigs to create my fantasy Intimate dinner for two competition design.

Common name

Baby’s breath, soap wort, Gyp, Gypsophila

Origin

Europe, Asia, North Africa

Varieties

Over 100 species grown both for the cut flower market and as ornamental plant

Colors

white or pink

Vase life

Seven to ten days with proper care. Dries well

Scent

slight floral fragrance

Uses

Traditionally Gypsophila was only used as a filler plant giving it a reputation for being over used and rather a cliche. Contemporary designers are now designing with large amounts of these tiny flowers to create light and cloud-like designs. The roots are also valued in the culinary world and it is used to make desserts Turkey.

Conditioning

Plants prefer full sun and well drained soil. Condition the cut flowers in warm water. To encourage the buds to open cover the flowers with a polyethylene sheet to raise the moisture level or place in a humid warm environment such as a bathroom.

Every week I add a new design with related tutorials. Be sure to subscribe to receive an email notification with design inspiration.

Related Designs

28 June 2023 Knot a vine wreath and ripped grass bug net

Simply easy design... with tiny design details to make your summer display unique.

28 June 2023 Catch and Release

Ah... yes summer time designing. Anyone else seeing more insects hiding between the petals this year?

9 June 2021 Baby’s Breath Wave Cascade

Easy and quick arrangement to do for summer in a vase... with just enough complexity to make you feel real good about yourself.

9 June 2021 Making Waves

A quick and easy to do cascade design for summer.

9 December 2020 A Twig and personal inner Gyp flurry melted snowman

Remember how Olaf from Frozen remained cool? With a personal flurry, of course! Two fishbowls, stacked and you are very nearly done.

9 December 2020 Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Gyp flurry Snowman

...ok not really that fancy- it’s paper pulp. Cardboard boxes, really. In the spirit of 2020- I am inspired by the endless stream of cardboard boxes being delivered. My list of...

3 June 2020 Craft a sturdy “that should be impossible” grid to support even heavier flowers

Using the same flower stems, only dry, to craft a grid for the same flowers stems, only fresh

3 June 2020 As if by magic

An impossibly delicate looking way to securely keep flowers in place over a clear container.

26 July 2017 Half wire half grass tangle to keep stems in place

Tangle and shape wire to create a half moon for grass and gyp to rest in

26 July 2017 Beat the summer heat

Tangle some wire to set flowers in water

26 October 2016 Folded Bleached Baby’s Breath Wreath Armature

Glued Baby's Breath Wreath, folded in half to create a moon shaped armature

26 October 2016 Harvest Moon

Fold a fine twig wreath in half to create a moon shaped armature

25 November 2015 Winter White Gyp Wreath

A dried wreath in winter white

25 November 2015 So white

A dried Baby's breath and fresh orchid wreath

4 November 2015 Bleached Baby’s Breath Wreath

Glue a radiating wreath from bleached Gyp

4 November 2015 Bleached Gypsophila

Gypsophila dries really well and can be bleached to a stunning winter white

4 November 2015 Delicate

Bleached Gypsophila wreath with delicate autumn touches

13 May 2015 Encased

Design Three from my Inspiration Video: Use the same floral ingredients, willow twigs, Lichen, Spanish Moss, Kalanchoe and Gypsophila to make three distinctly different...

6 May 2015 Tape and Wrap

Design Two from my Inspiration Video: Use the same floral ingredients, willow twigs, Lichen, Spanish Moss, Kalanchoe and Gypsophila to make three distinctly different contemporary...

30 April 2015 Layer

Design One from my Inspiration Video: Use the same floral ingredients, willow twigs, Lichen, Spanish Moss, Kalanchoe and Gypsophila to make three distinctly different contemporary...

18 December 2012 So this is Christmas, I hope you had fun…

Capilano Flower Arranging Club Designing for Christmas Workshop: Yule log

20 November 2012 there’s a feeling

Glue snippets of dried green stems and Green Trick Carnation to make tiny floral wings for Christmas

10 September 2012 Tying the knot

Gypsophilla design with Celtic love knots featured in the DIY Wedding Magazine

12 June 2012 Sticky Shooting Star

Glue gypsophila sticks, flowers and dandelion seeds into a star shape

11 June 2012 Wish Upon a Dandelion Star

A sticky shooting star made with gypsophila stems and fluffy dandelion seeds

9 November 2011 A snowball’s chance

I designed my posy to be light and feathery but also earthly, like a fresh snowball gathered from a forest floor.

12 April 2011 Intimate Dinner For Two- Table Setting Competition Class

Floral Sushi Dinner, for two

21 April 2011 Happy Easter!

Spring "Ice cream" posy with a Banana Leaf "cone"