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Dianthus barbatus
Sweet William, Carnation
| Cool-weather annuals, biennials, or perennials, their many fringed flowers look as if they were trimmed with pinking shears, winning them their common name. Sweetly clove-scented flowers have a velvety or satiny sheen. Colors include pink, rose, red, purple and white in pure or bicolor flowers with distinctively marked eyes or frosting. China Pinks (Dianthus chinensis) and Sweet Williams (Dianthus barbatus) are grown as low-growing annuals for edging, mass plantings and in containers. Perennials include single- and double-flowered hybrids. Weak-stemmed Florist Carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus), grown outdoors only in mild winter areas, are not the best garden plants. Use Pinks in borders and rock gardens. Smaller types make excellent ground covers, and are good in containers. All make exceptional cut flowers. Most need alkaline soils and cool growing conditions without heat and humidity. Some heat-tolerant varieties are available. In hot summer areas, plant in partial afternoon shade. Cut back or shear after bloom for repeat bloom. Perennials should be restarted frequently by cuttings from disease-free plants in spring or fall, or they die out. |
This popular, old-fashioned, low-grower has small, dense clusters of carnation-like flowers. Use double-flowered varieties and dwarf forms for edging and bedding. Best flowers in cool summer climates.
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Attributes - Dianthus barbatus
Plant Type: Annual
Bloom Season: Early Spring through Early Fall
Flower Color: Pink, Purple, White
Height: 10 in. to 1 ft. 8 in.
Width: 1 ft. 4 in.
Sunlight: Full Sun, Partial Sun
Notes: Thrives in Alkaline Soil. Container Plants, Cut Flowers, Long Blooming, Showy Flowers. Susceptible to Black Spot, Root Rot.
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Related Plants
Dianthus 'La Bourboule', Dianthus x allwoodii, Dianthus x allwoodii 'Aqua', Dianthus x allwoodii 'Doris', Dianthus x allwoodii 'Essex Witch', Dianthus barbatus 'Indian Carpet', Dianthus barbatus 'Newport Pink', Dianthus caryophyllus, Dianthus caryophyllus 'Golden Sun', Dianthus caryophyllus 'Hardy', Dianthus caryophyllus 'King of Blacks', Dianthus caryophyllus 'Triumph Rose', Dianthus caryophyllus 'Yellow Obreviture', Dianthus chinensis 'Ideal Crimson', Dianthus chinensis 'Magic Charms', Dianthus chinensis 'Telstar Mixed', Dianthus chinensis 'Telstar Picotee', Dianthus deltoides 'Brilliant', Dianthus deltoides 'Microchip Mixed', Dianthus deltoides 'Zing Rose', Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Bath's Pink', Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Karlic', Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Spotty', Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Tiny Rubies', Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Tiny Rubies', Dianthus plumarius, Dianthus plumarius 'Cottage Pink', Dianthus plumarius 'Spring Beauty', Dianthus superbus
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