About Dianthus Sweet William

There is always Sweet William in old prints and photos of cottage gardens. It’s a staple that works in any garden theme. It’s often listed as a biennial but I have found it to be a true perennial. It just keeps coming back as strong as ever. The blossoms are a rich variety of colors, beautifully marked with pink and red, bicolored and white. Dianthus Sweet William appears in clusters at the end of a 2' stem. They are a great long-lasting cut flower with a delightful fragrance. Montana State University lists Dianthus as a deer-resistant plant.

Dianthus Sweet William

Planting and Growing Dianthus

Make sure your Dianthus “harden off” to cool nights and windy conditions before planting. This requires leaving them outside in a protected area for a few days otherwise, they may wilt after planting. Choose an area in the sun or a little part shade is okay. Prepare your planting hole by turning the soil at least a shovel size deep and wide and be sure the hole is filled with plenty of organic matter for the best results. Remove your plant from its pack and gently loosen the root ball. Plant deep enough to cover the top of the root ball. Press down firmly on the soil and then water it in. Consider fertilizing once or twice a season. You can mulch if you like but not too.