Pictured above is my Kitty-cat, Mrs. Woman. She LOVES Sweet William and guards it well. However, I've managed to save many, many seeds and I think I can sneak them out of the house without her knowing!

Sweet William - Dianthus barbatus.

Organic, heirloom and open-pollinated. Mixed colours, as you can see in the picture. Very Fragrant! 8" - 14" tall. Is hardy in Zones 3-9, and is considered a self seeding perennial that is treated as a biennial. A wonderful addition to any garden since all pollinators love them! 

Available for sale here. Click --> Wall Flower Studio Garden' Listing.

A Bit About Dianthus:

Dianthus are an old fashioned flower dating back 2000 years ago. They include pinks, carnations and Sweet William, among others. You'll find annuals, biennials and perennials in varied heights and characteristics. Some dianthus are hardy all the way to Zone 3! These wonderful little plants are survivors with a few quirky little traits. The carnations we buy from florists are a large hybrid variety grown specially for commercial use. All dianthus are charming and add an old fashioned touch to the garden.

Culture Notes:
Sweet William should not be mulched or over watered. They need plenty of air circulation, and do not like soil or mulch touching the stems and foliage. This too is another plant that needs deadheading to really give you it's full bloom. They also need 4-5 hours of sun per day and a fertile, well drained soil. When preparing the soil for dianthus add a little lime to sweeten the soil. Dianthus can be grown in container as well. Add a little grit, such as sand, to a standard potting mix for containers. "Sow" easy to grow! 

Happy Gardening!