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. There are many cultivars available, including double-flowered and dwarf forms. The epithet ' barbatus' refers to the barbed or beard-like growth arising from the petals. It is sometimes offered as a potted florist plant. It is susceptible to crown rot and rust, particularly in poorly-drained soils. and can be bothered by snails and slugs, particularly in shaded areas. This plant has poison characteristics: low toxicity only if eaten and minor skin irritation iasting only for a few minutes.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
Less than 12 inches; 12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Rounded
Leaf color
Blue; Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate; Oblong
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Narrow lance-shaped leaves that are often grayish-green or blue-green to 4" long. Several oblong-lanceolate basal leaves, 4-10 pairs of cauline leaves. Short-stalked to stalkless
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy; Variegated; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Good Cut; Showy
Flower form
Cyme; Head; Umbel
Flower shape
Wheel
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Flowers 5-parted with a frilled margin, often fragrant, shades of pink, red, often bicolor with white.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black; Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The capsule is 1-celled, opening by 4 valves, the fruit is dry and splits open when ripe with numerous, shield-shaped blackish-brown seeds.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
European Mountains (Pyrenees, Carpathians, Balkans)
Wildlife value
Pollinated by Bees, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies).