Botanical Name: Dianthus barbatus
Common Name: Sweet William
Type of Plant: dicot: biennial
Character biennial
 
Habit of Growth:
Overall Shape sturdy upright to spreading plant; dense juvenile foliage topped by cymes of pink, red or rose flowers - margins of petals are serrated
Height 6" - 24"
Spread 12"
Growth Rate moderate
 
Environment:
Exposure outdoors full sun
Soil prefers a light, fast-draining soil; amend well
Hardiness hardy (all zones)
 
Morphology:
Leaves juvenile leaves lanceolate to 3" long, glabrous, fleshy; adult foliage sparse, small (to 1" long), lanceolate to linear
Flowers dense clusters of white, pink, rose, red or purplish flowers - 4 petals, to 3/4" across; not fragrant
Fruit 4-valved capsule
 
Propagation:
seed
 
Usage:
border plant, in warm sunny beds, in color pots - good in rock gardens
 
Landscape Care:
Watering keep slightly dry
Fertilizing balanced, half-strength, monthly
Pruning pinch off dead flowers
Pests/Diseases rust, fusarium wilt (don't plant two years in succession)
Special Conditions/Other hydrids available
 
Origin: Southern Europe
Family: Caryophyllaceae

Notes:
 
PDF
Your pictures go here