Sweet William

sweet William, (Dianthus barbatus), garden plant in the pink family (Caryophyllaceae), grown for its clusters of small bright-coloured flowers. It is usually treated as a biennial, seed sown the first year producing flowering plants the second year. The plant, growing to a height of 60 cm (2 feet), produces numerous flowers—white, pink, rose to violet, or sometimes bicoloured—with fringed petals. It is used in the floral industry for its cut flowers. See also Dianthus.

Dianthus barbatus

Dianthus barbatus (Sweet William) is a biennial or short-lived perennial that is often grown as an annual. It thrives in loamy, slightly alkaline soil in sun or partial shade in hot summer climates. The flowers grow in rounded, dense clusters. Colors range from white through intense red and purple, often bicolor. There are many cultivars available, including double-flowered and dwarf forms. The epithet ‘ barbatus’ refers to the barbed or beard-like growth arising from the petals.

It is susceptible to crown rot and rust, particularly in poorly-drained soils. and can be bothered by snails and slugs, particularly in shaded areas.

This plant has poison characteristics: low toxicity only if eaten and minor skin irritation iasting only for a few minutes.

• ‘Heart Attack’
  dark blood-red, tolerates heat and humidity well

• ‘Heart Attack’
  dark blood-red, tolerates heat and humidity well

• Attributes: Genus: Dianthus Species: barbatus Family: Caryophyllaceae Life Cycle: Annual Biennial Perennial Recommended Propagation Strategy: Division Seed Country Or Region Of Origin: European Mountains (Pyrenees, Carpathians, Balkans) Wildlife Value: Pollinated by Bees, Lepidoptera (Moths and Butterflies). Play Value: Attractive Flowers Attracts Pollinators Colorful Fragrance Dimensions: Height: 1 ft. 0 in. – 2 ft. 0 in. Width: 0 ft. 6 in. – 1 ft. 0 in.

• Whole Plant Traits: Plant Type: Annual Herbaceous Perennial Houseplant Poisonous Habit/Form: Dense Erect Rounded Growth Rate: Medium Maintenance: Medium

• Cultural Conditions: Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours) Soil Texture: High Organic Matter Loam (Silt) Sand Soil pH: Neutral (6.0-8.0) Soil Drainage: Good Drainage Moist Available Space To Plant: Less than 12 inches 12 inches-3 feet NC Region: Coastal Mountains Piedmont USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

• Fruit: Fruit Color: Black Brown/Copper Fruit Type: Capsule Fruit Length: < 1 inch Fruit Width: < 1 inch Fruit Description: The capsule is 1-celled, opening by 4 valves, the fruit is dry and splits open when ripe with numerous, shield-shaped blackish-brown seeds.

• Flowers: Flower Color: Pink Purple/Lavender Red/Burgundy Variegated White Flower Inflorescence: Cyme Head Umbel Flower Value To Gardener: Fragrant Good Cut Showy Flower Bloom Time: Spring Flower Shape: Wheel Flower Petals: 4-5 petals/rays Flower Size: 1-3 inches Flower Description: Flowers 5-parted with a frilled margin, often fragrant, shades of pink, red, often bicolor with white.

• Leaves: Leaf Color: Blue Gray/Silver Green Leaf Feel: Smooth Leaf Type: Simple Leaf Arrangement: Opposite Leaf Shape: Elliptical Lanceolate Oblong Leaf Margin: Entire Hairs Present: No Leaf Length: 3-6 inches Leaf Description: Narrow lance-shaped leaves that are often grayish-green or blue-green to 4″ long. Several oblong-lanceolate basal leaves, 4-10 pairs of cauline leaves. Short-stalked to stalkless

• Stem: Stem Is Aromatic: No

• Landscape: Landscape Location: Container Houseplants Patio Walkways Landscape Theme: Butterfly Garden Cottage Garden Cutting Garden Pollinator Garden Design Feature: Border Mass Planting Small groups Attracts: Bees Butterflies Hummingbirds Moths Songbirds Resistance To Challenges: Deer Heat Humidity Problems: Poisonous to Humans Problem for Cats Problem for Dogs Problem for Horses

• Poisonous to Humans: Poison Severity: Low Poison Symptoms: No reports of ingestion. Skin irritation reported from contact with clove pinks and vomiting. Poison Toxic Principle: Triterpenoid saponins Causes Contact Dermatitis: Yes Poison Part: Leaves

Dianthus barbatus

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sweet William

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Also known as: Dianthus barbatus, bearded pink, bunch pink, sour Billy, stinking Willie

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sweet William, (Dianthus barbatus), garden plant in the pink family (Caryophyllaceae), grown for its clusters of small bright-coloured flowers. It is usually treated as a biennial, seed sown the first year producing flowering plants the second year. The plant, growing to a height of 60 cm (2 feet), produces numerous flowers—white, pink, rose to violet, or sometimes bicoloured—with fringed petals. It is used in the floral industry for its cut flowers. See also Dianthus.

Many sources contend that the flower was named for William Augustus, duke of Cumberland, who led British forces against the Jacobites at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Other sources claim, however, that the name of the flower can be traced to the writings of Thomas Tusser, a 16th-century English poet. In Scotland the flower is known as stinking Willie or sour Billy.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.