Dianthus barbatus

Dianthus barbatus (sweet William) seeds for scented, fringed flower heads in crimson, pink and white. A cottage-garden biennial classic.
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Dianthus barbatus — sweet William

Dianthus barbatus is the botanical name for sweet William, a richly scented cottage-garden classic carrying dense, flat heads of fringed flowers in crimson, pink, white and striking bicolours. It is the species behind our sweet William range and part of the wider dianthus family within the flower seed collection.

History & origin

Native to the mountains of southern Europe, sweet William has been cherished in gardens since the sixteenth century, a mainstay of the English cottage border long before modern bedding plants arrived. Generations of selection have given us the dense heads and vivid markings we know today.

The genus name Dianthus comes from the Greek dios anthos, “flower of the gods,” while barbatus means “bearded,” for the slender bracts that fringe the flower heads.

Botanical characteristics

A short-lived perennial almost always grown as a biennial, sweet William forms neat rosettes the first year and sturdy, branching flower stems the next. The clustered, often clove-scented blooms are superb for cutting and a magnet for bees and butterflies, earning a place among our pollinator flowers.

Growing Dianthus barbatus from seed

Sow in late spring or early summer for flowers the following year, prick out and grow on, then plant into well-drained, neutral-to-alkaline soil in full sun. It is wonderfully easy and often self-seeds. Our flower growing guide and flower sowing calendar cover the timing.

Ready to grow sweet William? Browse the varieties or learn the basics first.

Related categories: Sweet William · Dianthus · Biennial Flowers · Pollinator Flowers · All Flower Seeds

At SeedsChoice, every order ships from Meppel, NL with fast, tracked EU delivery.

What is Dianthus barbatus?
It is the botanical name for sweet William — browse the range in our sweet William collection. When should I sow sweet William seeds?
Sow in late spring or early summer for flowers the following year, as it grows as a biennial. What soil does it like?
Well-drained, neutral-to-alkaline soil in full sun suits it best, and it often self-seeds. Where do orders ship from?
Every order ships from Meppel, Netherlands with fast, tracked EU delivery.