Baby’s breath is a staple of cut flower bouquets, adding contrast to larger blooms with a fine texture and delicate white flowers. You can grow these flowers in your garden with an annual or a perennial variety. Depending on the climate, you may need to take some extra steps to ensure survival over the winter.
Will Baby’s Breath Survive Winter?
Baby’s breath cold tolerance is pretty good, both in perennial and annual form. The annual varieties grow in zones 2 through 10, while the perennials will survive in zones 3 through 9.
The annuals, of course, will not need to be overwintered. If your climate is colder, you can simply plant them in the spring and enjoy flowers all summer. They’ll die back in the fall. If you live in the milder range of the growing zones, you can also plant annual baby’s breath in the fall.
Outdoor perennial baby’s breath will survive winter in most areas. However, you may need to take some steps for baby’s breath winter care to protect them, especially in gardens in the colder area of this plant’s range.
Winterizing Baby’s Breath
One of the most important components in baby’s breath winter protection is keeping the soil from getting too moist. Excessive moisture can be a real issue, causing root rot, and baby’s breath plants prefer dry soil anyway. Make sure your plants are in a spot with good drainage.
Cut back the plants after they have finished blooming in the fall and cover them with mulch if you have very cold winters. The mulch can also help keep plants dry, so use this strategy if you have wet winters too.
If, despite your best efforts, you can’t keep the roots and the soil dry enough around baby’s breath, it is worthwhile to move them. They always prefer drier soil but especially in the winter. Transplant to a drier location with more sun if it continues to be an issue.
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