How to Grow and Care for Sweet William
Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) is an herbaceous perennial or biennial that is often planted as an annual flower. It is a very slow-growing plant that will eventually reach a height of about 2 feet. The flowering plant, with average pointed green leaves, produces blooms in vibrant shades that attract pollinators like butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. This plant does best in full sun and is best suited for use in cottage gardens, perennial beds, or containers. Sweet William is generally easy to grow and likes regular water, but not oversaturation. Sweet William is mildly toxic to pets and people, so make sure to plant in an area that pets don't have access to.
| Common Name | Sweet William, bunch pink, bearded pink, pinks |
| Botanical Name | Dianthus barbatus |
| Family | Caryophyllaceae |
| Plant Type | Herbaceous, perennial |
| Mature Size | 1-2 ft. tall, 0.5-1 ft. wide |
| Sun Exposure | Full, partial |
| Soil Type | Moist, well-drained |
| Soil pH | Acidic, neutral, alkaline |
| Bloom Time | Spring, Summer |
| Flower Color | Red, Pink, White |
| Hardiness Zones | 3-9 (USDA) |
| Native Area | Europe |
| Toxicity | Toxic to pets and people |
Sweet William Care
Sweet William is easy to grow provided the following needs are met.
- Plant in rich, well-drained soil.
- Space plants about 8 inches apart as bedding plants to allow for the dense foliage that appears during the first year.
- Provide full, filtered sun but partial shade in hot temperatures.
- Irrigate regularly, but be careful not to overwater.
Light
Unless you live in a hotsouthern region, sweet William likes a full sun position over any shade. They can tolerate light shade, but too much of it results in leggy, floppy plants. In hot regions, some afternoon shade is best to help prolong the bloom time.
Soil
Sweet William can tolerate many soil types, except wet, heavy conditions. A well-drained, fertile, loamy site is ideal. The plants can survive in soils with various pH levels too but often do best in a neutral to slightly alkaline one. Some growers add lime to the soil before planting.
Water
Water sweet William regularly through the growing season, but take care not to overwater. Waterlogged conditions promote fungal diseases in this species. A moist but not saturated substrate is best.
Temperature and Humidity
For a flowering plant, sweet William is relatively cold-hardy. It can survive light frosts, but deep freezes will result in the plant dying down. This species doesn't do well with high humidity, and temperatures above 85° Fahrenheit can result in dormancy.
Fertilizer
Sweet William should be fed with an all-purpose fertilizer every 6 to 8 weeks while they are growing. For the amount to use, follow product label instructions.
From: thespruce
