Gypsophila elegans
Showy baby's-breath
(c) Zihao Wang, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Gypsophila elegans (Showy baby's-breath) is a non-native California herb in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by intermediate flower size and annual habit.
Showy baby's-breath is a naturalized annual found in central Sierra Nevada Mountains near Mammoth Lakes, Great Valley, and western Transverse Ranges in open pine and fir forests and along roadsides at elevations below 2,500 meters. Flowering from summer to early fall, this delicate plant produces white to pink flowers with purple-veined petals measuring 6 to 10 millimeters long. Growing 15 to 50 centimeters tall with a slender taproot, it has an open, airy growth habit with relatively few flowers. Its leaves are narrow and lance-linear, measuring 2 to 5 millimeters wide with a distinctive sparse, elongated shape. The plant's small white-scarious calyx cups the flowers in a delicate, bell-shaped arrangement.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; distinguished by intermediate flower size and annual habit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open pine/fir forest, roadsides
Elevation: < 2500 m
Outside California: +- North America; native to southwestern Europe, southeastern Asia.
Bloom period
Gypsophila elegans blooms Summer-early fall.
How to tell it apart
vs Torilis: Gypsophila has cloud-like flower masses with 5-petaled flowers; Torilis has umbrella-shaped clusters with tiny white umbels.; vs Lobularia: Gypsophila has tubular flowers with visible sepals; Lobularia has 4-petaled cross-shaped flowers with no visible tube.; vs Eriogonum: Gypsophila has opposite leaves and tubular flowers; Eriogonum has basal leaf rosettes and papery flower bracts.; vs Saponaria: Gypsophila has tiny flowers (tube under 5mm) with white-striped tubes; Saponaria has large flowers (tube 9-25mm) with solid green tubes.; vs Vaccaria: Gypsophila has cup-shaped tubes under 5mm with white stripes; Vaccaria has angled tubes 9-25mm that are solid green.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gypsophila elegans native to California?
No. Gypsophila elegans is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Gypsophila elegans bloom?
Gypsophila elegans blooms Summer-early fall.
What plant family does Gypsophila elegans belong to?
Gypsophila elegans is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Gypsophila.
What habitat does Gypsophila elegans grow in?
Gypsophila elegans grows in Open pine/fir forest, roadsides.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.