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Dianthus barbatus

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
dy-AN-thus bar-BAY-tus
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

 

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 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.

 

See this plant in the following landscapes:
Cottage Garden, Storybook Lake Wall Garden
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Heart Attack'
    dark blood-red, tolerates heat and humidity well
'Heart Attack'
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#poisonous#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#heat tolerant#houseplant#biennial#white flowers#purple flowers#pink flowers#red flowers#colorful#cottage garden#upright form#moist soil#well-drained soil#bicolor#rich soils#neutral pH#deer resistant#annual flowers#rounded#cutting garden#pollinator plant#short lifespan#humidity tolerant#loamy soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#HS302#problem for cats#problem for dogs#bee friendly#problem for horses#dense growth
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Heart Attack'
    dark blood-red, tolerates heat and humidity well
'Heart Attack'
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#poisonous#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#heat tolerant#houseplant#biennial#white flowers#purple flowers#pink flowers#red flowers#colorful#cottage garden#upright form#moist soil#well-drained soil#bicolor#rich soils#neutral pH#deer resistant#annual flowers#rounded#cutting garden#pollinator plant#short lifespan#humidity tolerant#loamy soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#HS302#problem for cats#problem for dogs#bee friendly#problem for horses#dense growth
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Dianthus
    Species:
    barbatus
    Family:
    Caryophyllaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Biennial
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    European Mountains (Pyrenees, Carpathians, Balkans)
    Wildlife Value:
    Pollinated by Bees, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies).
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Colorful
    Fragrance
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Houseplant
    Poisonous
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Erect
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    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 To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Brown/Copper
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    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.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Variegated
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Head
    Umbel
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Good Cut
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Wheel
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Flowers 5-parted with a frilled margin, often fragrant, shades of pink, red, often bicolor with white.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Smooth
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Lanceolate
    Oblong
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    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
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Houseplants
    Patio
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Cutting Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Moths
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Heat
    Humidity
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    No reports of ingestion. Skin irritation reported from contact with clove pinks and vomiting.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Triterpenoid saponins
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    Yes
    Poison Part:
    Leaves