A Phytophthora species isolated from crown rot of baby's breath, Gypsophila paniculata L., were identified as P. nicotianae var. payasitica. An inoculation test showed that pathogenicity of the 8 isolates to baby's breath was severe. Soil fumigation with chloropicrin, chloropicrin methyl bromide or methyl isothiocyanate D-D, soil application with metalaxyl or fungicidal soil drench with fosetyl were recommendable effective for control of the disease, and hymexazol metalaxyl, oxadixyl mancozeb, propamocarb hydrochloride or echlomezol reduced the damage of the disease.