Baby’s Breath, Danziger, and the Cut Flower Industry

Most people don’t realize that one company has dominated the world’s supply of gypsophila — better known as baby’s breath — for the last twenty-five years. Unlike other firms that specialize in one part of production, this company controls the entire supply chain, from seed development and propagation to global distribution and marketing.

That company is Danziger, an Israeli agribusiness operating on occupied Palestinian land.

Baby’s Breath Isn’t as Innocent as It Looks

Danziger’s headquarters sit in Mishmar ha-Shiv’a, one of four settlements built after more than 3,800 acres were seized from Palestinians in Bayt Dajan. Bayt Dajan was one of twenty-three villages surrounding Jaffa destroyed during Operation Chametz in 1948. Just five years later, Danziger launched operations on that land.

Since the 1990s, Danziger has developed nearly all of the baby’s breath sold across the globe. Varieties like Million, Xcelence, Perfecta, New Star, and Andromeda — familiar names in wholesale markets and wedding installations — all trace back to their breeding program. If you’ve bought or worked with baby’s breath in the past two decades, chances are you’ve financially contributed to Danziger’s empire.

The BDS Movement and Israeli Agricultural Exports

The BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement calls for boycotting all Israeli fruits, vegetables, and agricultural products — regardless of where they’re grown — because these industries are deeply tied to human rights violations.

Exports of Israeli crops often rely on water illegally taken from Palestinian aquifers, worsening the water shortages faced by Palestinian farmers. Agricultural companies that operate in settlements, like Danziger, help normalize and secure Israel’s grip on occupied territory. Every trade deal or license strengthens that system.

Palestinian farmers have borne the brunt of land confiscations, demolitions, and water theft. Doing business with Danziger, which began on the ruins of Bayt Dajan, provides the company with the capital to expand further into colonized markets. Our purchases don’t just buy flowers — they buy political legitimacy for the occupation.

Flowers Tied to Danziger Beyond Baby’s Breath

Danziger’s reach extends far past gypsophila. The company manages more than 600 elite varieties under Plant Breeding Rights and patents worldwide. It runs propagation facilities in Israel, Guatemala, Ecuador, Colombia, and Kenya, and supplies materials to over 1,000 growers in 60+ countries.

If you’re a florist, many of the roses, carnations, mums, and limonium you see in wholesale catalogs are Danziger-owned varieties. If you’re a farmer-florist in the U.S., some of the most popular plug varieties — including anemones, craspedia, veronica, and scoop scabiosa — funnel profits back to them.

Ethical Alternatives to Danziger Flowers

If we are to uphold UN Resolution 194, which affirms the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and land, then continuing to support Danziger is incompatible with that vision. They have operated — and profited — on occupied land for more than seventy years.

So where does that leave us?

• Farmers: Refuse to order plugs or plant material from suppliers sourcing through Danziger.

• Gardeners: Skip baby’s breath altogether; in many U.S. states it’s considered invasive anyway.

• Retail florists: Review your order sheets. Many common varieties trace back to Danziger. Consider dropping them.

• Brides, grooms, and event designers: Say no to baby’s breath and waxflower installations. There are beautiful, seasonal alternatives.

• Everyday shoppers: Grocery store bouquets are almost always filled with Danziger-owned varieties. Instead, seek out a local florist or farmer-florist who prioritizes seasonal blooms.

Baby’s breath has become a symbol of innocence, romance, and celebration. Yet beneath the delicate white sprays is a supply chain rooted in displacement and colonization. By questioning where our flowers come from, we can resist complicity and create demand for a floral industry grounded in justice and local resilience.

Let’s do better.

Let’s shift the discourse — and the supply chain.