Water
Water regularly to keep the soil consistently moist, especially during dry periods. Avoid waterlogging, as this can lead to root rot.
Allow the top inch of soil to dry slightly between waterings for optimal health and blooming.
Also known as Bearded Dianthus · Bearded Pink · Bloomy Down
Sweet-William (Dianthus barbatus) is a popular biennial or short-lived perennial known for its fragrant, colorful, cluster-forming flowers in shades of red, pink, white,
At-a-glance light, water, soil, and growing conditions from plant data
Full Sun
100% intensity
Prefers at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for best flowering.
Moderate
50% intensity
Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Well-drained
50% intensity
Moderate
50% intensity
Prefers temperatures between 15-24°C during the day; cooler at night.
Outdoor
50% intensity
Moderate
50% intensity
Feed during the growing season with a balanced liquid fertilizer.
Safety information from plant toxicity data
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Toxic for humans | No 0/5 intensity |
| Toxic for pets | No 0/5 intensity |
| Edible | No |
None
Key traits and growing stats from plant data
Watering, pruning, propagation, and repotting details from plant data
Water regularly to keep the soil consistently moist, especially during dry periods. Avoid waterlogging, as this can lead to root rot.
Allow the top inch of soil to dry slightly between waterings for optimal health and blooming.
Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming and prevent self-seeding if unwanted. At the end of the flowering season, you can cut back plants by about one-third to tidy them up and promote a compact form for the following year.
Sweet-Williams are easily propagated from seeds sown in spring or early autumn, either directly outdoors or in a seed tray. They can also be propagated from basal cuttings taken in late spring or early summer after flowering.
Biennial or short-lived perennial Sweet-Williams are best treated as annuals or biennials and do not typically require repotting. If grown in containers and needing refreshing, repot them in early spring into a slightly larger pot with fresh, well-draining compost.
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Monthly activity intensity for bloom and fruit across both hemispheres.
Flowering & fruiting calendar
Flowering & fruiting calendar
Photos of Sweet-William (Dianthus barbatus)
Common names and botanical synonyms
Botanical classification
| Rank | Name |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Division | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Caryophyllales |
| Family | Caryophyllaceae |
| Genus | Dianthus |
| Species | Dianthus barbatus |
Similar in genus Dianthus
Answers based on plant encyclopedia data
