Sweet William

Sweet William Overview

Dianthus barbatus is a popular garden species that is commonly known by the names Sweet William and Bearded Pink. It is either a biennial or short-lived perennial with lance-shaped, evergreen leaves on stiff stems which are held upright and have thickened nodes. Foliage is arranged in a rosette and this plant typically reaches a height of around 40-60cm tall. This plant is mainly grown for its attractive, colourful flowers, which are produced densely in clusters at the ends of stems in a flattened arrangement. These may be some shade of red, purple, pink or white and many possess bicoloured blooms. Petals are toothed along their edges, creating a frilly effect and these flowers often have attractive patterning across their surface. Flowers often have a spicy, clove-like scent to them. This species is part of the Royal Horticultural Society “Plants for Pollinators” initiative to showcase plants which support pollinator populations by providing ample amounts of nectar and/ or pollen.