Sweet William
Dianthus barbatus
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Sweet William grows in full sun to partial shade and prefers fertile, well-drained soil. Water needs: Moderate.
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How to Grow Sweet William
Sweet William growing information includes sunlight requirements of Full sun to partial shade, soil conditions listed as Fertile, well-drained soil with a soil pH of 6.0-7.5, and Moderate water needs. The listed hardiness zones are 3-9. For propagation reference, the database lists germination or establishment information for Sweet William as 7-21 days, with planting or establishment depth listed as 1/8 inch. Days to maturity are listed as Often flowers in second season.
Plant Overview
Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) is listed in the Caryophyllaceae family and categorized as a flower with a biennial or short-lived perennial life cycle. This profile summarizes growing information for hardiness, light, soil, water, seed starting, maturity, and other available cultivation details. Difficulty is listed as Easy.
- Plant ID
- PLT-0267
- Family
- Caryophyllaceae
- Plant type
- Flower
- Life cycle
- Biennial or short-lived perennial
- Difficulty
- Easy
Growing Conditions
Sweet William is listed for full sun to partial shade conditions. Water needs are listed as moderate. The database soil reference is Fertile, well-drained soil. The listed soil pH range is 6.0-7.5, and the listed hardiness range is 3-9.
- Hardiness zones
- 3-9
- Sunlight
- Full sun to partial shade
- Soil
- Fertile, well-drained soil
- Soil pH
- 6.0-7.5
- Water needs
- Moderate
Seed & Germination
For seed starting, the listed germination time is 7-21 days and the seed depth is 1/8 inch. Maturity guidance: Often flowers in second season. Use these values as general reference points and adjust for local climate, seed source, and growing conditions.
- Germination
- 7-21 days
- Seed depth
- 1/8 inch
Harvest & Propagation
- Days to maturity
- Often flowers in second season
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Growing Reference Note
Plant performance can vary with climate, soil, weather, cultivar, seed quality, and gardening methods. The values on this page are general database reference ranges rather than a substitute for local extension guidance or seed-packet instructions.