Japanese name: カスミソウ（霞草） Scientific name:Gypsophila elegans
[Overview]
An annual 20–100 cm tall.
It is hairless throughout.
The stem is slender, erect, and branches freely.
There are both basal leaves and stem leaves; the basal leaves are spatulate-oblong.
The stem leaves are simple and opposite, linear-lanceolate, 2.5–7.5 cm long, with entire margins.
Dichasial cymes bear many white or pink flowers about 1 cm across.
[History]
It was introduced to Europe in 1828 and to Japan in the early Taisho era.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed.
Sow in autumn in warm regions and in spring in cold regions.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained, well-ventilated place.
It dislikes acidic soil and excess moisture.
It is easier to grow on slightly dry, poor soil.
For potted plants, water when the soil surface dries.
For plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
If a base fertilizer is applied, no further fertilizing is particularly necessary.
Too much fertilizer makes the plant leggy and flowers less likely to bloom.
Pests and diseases include damping-off and aphids.
