Sweet William Dianthus
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Sweet William:
- Phonetic Spelling
- dy-AN-thus
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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The Dianthus genus includes over 27,000 registered cultivar names. They are grown as annuals, biennials and evergreen perennials.
Flowers are 5-parted, fragrant, pink-lilac, pink-purple or white, often with picotee margins. The common name of 'pinks' does not refer to the color, but to the fringed or frilly edging which looks like it was trimmed with 'pinking shears'.
Dianthus should be planted in full sun but can tolerate some shade. Well-drained soil and good air circulation are necessary to avoid root rot and fungal diseases. Dianthus will grow in different soil types, preferring neutral to slightly alkaline soil, but can tolerate some acidity.
The petals of the Dianthus flowers are edible when grown organically, and often crystallized with sugar and used for decorating cakes. However, the leaves can cause mild gastrointestinal distress if eaten and mild dermatitis if touched,
This plant is resistant to damage by deer but will be eaten by rabbits.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Dry Stream Bed Garden in Cabarrus County Crevice Garden at the Guilford County Extension Center Butterfly Garden at Rob Wallace Park Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Muscadine Bed Juniper Level Botanic Garden: Parking Lot Berms
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- ‘American Pie’TM Bumbleberry Pie’
- 'Baths Pink'
Mat forming, fragrant, pink flowers - Constant Beauty Crush Rose
- ‘JoltTM Pink’
- Vivid Bright Light
- ‘American Pie’TM Bumbleberry Pie’
- ‘American Pie’TM Bumbleberry Pie’, 'Baths Pink', Constant Beauty Crush Rose, ‘JoltTM Pink’, Vivid Bright Light
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- ‘American Pie’TM Bumbleberry Pie’
- 'Baths Pink'
Mat forming, fragrant, pink flowers - Constant Beauty Crush Rose
- ‘JoltTM Pink’
- Vivid Bright Light
- ‘American Pie’TM Bumbleberry Pie’
- ‘American Pie’TM Bumbleberry Pie’, 'Baths Pink', Constant Beauty Crush Rose, ‘JoltTM Pink’, Vivid Bright Light
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Dianthus
- Family:
- Caryophyllaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Carnation petals have been used to make the French liqueur Chartreuse. Crystallized petals are used for decorating cakes, fresh petals can be used in salads. The bitter petal base is not edible. The leaves should not be eaten as they are mildly toxic.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Biennial
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Layering
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eurasia, southern Africa
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts butterflies and other insect pollinators.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer and rabbit resistant
- Edibility:
- Petals are edible (when free of pesticide and herbicide residues)
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Poisonous
- Habit/Form:
- Cascading
- Clumping
- Erect
- Mounding
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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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:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- cylindric, or rarely ovoid, releasing seeds by 4 teeth or valves.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Variegated
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Wheel
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flower has five petals that are flattened and may be found as densely clustered flower heads, open cymes, and rarely as a solitary flower. They are usually self-sterile, requiring pollen from another plant for fertilization.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Waxy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Insignificant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Acicular
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Oblanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Narrow leaves that are 2-3" long, often glaucous grey-green or blue-green, pinnate venation. Often found as parallel pairs on nodes at right angles to each other on the stem.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- terete or angular, articulated, dilated at nodes
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Rock Wall
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Pollution
- Rabbits
- Urban Conditions
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
