Sweet William Flower

wide (15-30 cm), Sweet William will reseed each year in optimum growing conditions and remain in the garden. Performs best in full sun in organically rich, neutral to alkaline, well-drained soils.

Is sweet William a perennial or an annual?

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.

Do sweet William flowers spread?

Sweet William flowers will spread by seed. Deadhead flowers immediately if you don't want new flowers in your garden each year. This also encourages your sweet William to produce more flowers. If you grow sweet William as a perennial, do not cut back the stems until they die back after the first big frost of the year.

Do Sweet Williams need full sun?

Sweet williams enjoy a full to partial sun location in rich, loamy soil with a light, porous composition and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. These plants are susceptible to crown rot and rust in wet conditions, so well-draining soil is a must.

Do you cut down sweet William in the fall?

Protect your sweet William plants from the winter cold by cutting back dead foliage and blooms after flowering, but don't prune in the fall. Let the rest of the dead foliage fall to the ground to create a layer of protective mulch. Add to this a few more inches of mulch to insulate roots.

How do you keep sweet William blooming all summer?

To keep your Sweet Williams blooming you will need to deadhead them. Watch as the flowers begin to fade and pinch or cut back the stem to half of its growing height.

Do Sweet Williams need deadheading?

If you grow sweet William, you will want to deadhead them throughout the course of their blooming season. Deadheading is the act of removing fading blooms from the plant. It does not destroy the flowers, rather it helps promote healthy new blooms according to the National Garden Bureau.

What month do you plant sweet William?

Sweet williams (Dianthus barbatus) can be grown from seed or bought as plugs or small plants. To grow sweet williams from seed, it's best to sow the seeds in May-July for flowers the next year.

Should I cut back Sweet William after flowering?

When the flowers of Sweet William plants have dried, gently cut them off and discard them. This will encourage new blossom growth, and prevent the plant from dropping seeds if you wish to control your garden more closely.

Is Sweet William poisonous to dogs?

Sweet William plant, known as carnation, is a garden flower that poisons both dogs and cats. Though, mildly toxic in most cases, ingestion, if not treated can result in extreme gastrointestinal and dermal issues.

Do Sweet William flowers smell?

Sweet William is one of those old-fashioned flowers: tall, vivid green stems topped with fringed petals in patchwork colours, dark tapestry rubies, fuchsia and white. Best of all, they are intensely fragrant, with a delicious, rich perfume.

How tall does Sweet William get?

Dianthus barbatus, commonly called sweet William, typically grows 12-24” tall and features small flowers held in dense, flat-topped terminal clusters (3-5” wide). Many cultivars are available in commerce, including double-flowered forms as well as some dwarf plants (4-8” tall).

Does sweet William self seed?

Gardener's HQ Guide to Growing Sweet William As the plant readily self-seeds, once it is in place more Sweet William plants will bloom each year. However these may not stay true to the original cultivar, so you may wish to remove these and grow purchased plants yearly.

What is the difference between Dianthus and sweet William?

In addition to the scientific name of Dianthus, these flowers are also known as sweet williams or pinks. It is believed that the color “pink,” actually came from the flower, like the color “rose” refers to the color of the rose flower. Pinks, the flowers, were named for the zigzagged edges of their petals.

Can sweet William be split?

Divide sweet William every two to four years. Doing so in the spring just as the season's new growth is starting is best, but if you don't get to the plant before it flowers, wait and divide it in the fall. Avoid dividing plants that are in bloom or already stressed by insects, disease or other conditions.

How do you take care of a sweet William flower?

Sweet William grows well in cool climates. Use fertile, alkaline and well-drained soil is suitable for growing these perennials. They should be planted in a spot where they receive full sun for at least 4-5 hours of the day. Plants enjoy part shade or afternoon shade from the hot summer temperatures.

Should I cut back sweet William for winter?

Aside from deadheading, Sweet Williams won't need much pruning in their first two years but they may start to grow unruly in their third year. Prune your plants in the autumn or early spring, trimming larger stems near the base.

How many years do Sweet Williams last?

The plant grows for two years, blooming in the second year. The compact size of Sweet Williams makes them great for containers and pots or on a windowsill. Despite their small size, they also make good cut flowers – all they need for indoor splendour is a small vase.

How do you collect sweet William seeds?

Seed Saving: At the end of the season, allow the blossoms to mature and produce seed pods. The pods will turn dry and brown, splitting open on the top when ripe. Shake the pods over a container to remove the seeds, which are tiny black discs. Store the Sweet William seed in a cool, dry place.

How do you deadhead a sweet william plant?

How to Deadhead Sweet William

1. Check the plants frequently for expired blossoms after they begin blooming.
2. Cut individual sweet William stems to about half their height when flower blooms start to fade and die; you can cut them with bypass pruners or pinch them off with your fingers.