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Dianthus barbatus - L.                
                 
Common Name Sweet William
Family Caryophyllaceae
Synonyms
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Meadows and woods[45].
Range S. Europe. An occasional garden escape in Britain[17].
Edibility Rating  
Medicinal Rating  
Care
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun

Summary       

Physical Characteristics       
 icon of manicon of flower
Dianthus barbatus is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft).
It is hardy to zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from Jul to August, and the seeds ripen from Aug to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, lepidoptera.It is noted for attracting wildlife.


Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.
Dianthus barbatus Sweet William


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Ram-Man
Dianthus barbatus Sweet William
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Ram-Man
   
Habitats       
Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Meadow; Cultivated Beds;
Edible Uses                                         
Edible Parts: Flowers.
Edible Uses:

The flowers have a mild flavour and are used as a garnish for vegetable and fruit salads, cakes, desserts, cold drinks etc[183].
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.



None known
Other Uses
None known
Cultivation details                                         
Prefers a rich well-drained loamy soil in a sunny position, but succeeds in most soils including dry ones[1]. A very ornamental plant[1], its flowers are very attractive to butterflies and moths[17, 30]. The flowers have a strong clove-like scent[245]. Plants self-sow freely when grown in a suitable position[1]. Although the Sweet William is a perennial species, it is quite short-lived and degenerates after its second year. It is best treated as a biennial in the garden[200].
                                                                                 
Propagation                                         
Seed - sow May/June in a cold frame. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 3 weeks. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer or autumn[1]. The seed can also be sown thinly in an outdoor seedbed in late spring, the young plants being planted out in late spring or the autumn. Cuttings of half-ripe shoots, July in a frame[1]. Division in September[1]. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.
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Expert comment                                         
 
      
Author                                         
L.
                                                                                 
Botanical References                                         
45200
                                                                                 
Links / References                                         

[1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
[17]Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles.
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
[30]Carter D. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe.
An excellent book on Lepidoptera, it also lists their favourite food plants.
[45]Polunin. O. Flowers of Greece and the Balkans.
A good pocket flora, it also lists quite a few plant uses.
[183]Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
[245]Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World.
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

Readers comment                                         
 
Elizabeth H.
John Bennett Tue Jul 10 2007
My Sweet William are now producing seeds. Can I sow these now in the greenhouse for a flowering plant next year, or do they need ripening off first.
Elizabeth H.
Alec Smith Sun Aug 10 2008
Can you explain why no flowers are produced when all conditions are met. Watered ,fed plenty of growth, planted from seedlings in june
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