Species sweet William Guide
white-maroon flowers with pink-white center and lush-green leaves with green stems

sweet William

Dianthus barbatus 'Pinocchio'

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Division,Cutting,Seed Propagation,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

3 - 9

Flowers:

Red, pink, white and bicolor (double) Flowers

Sun:

Full sun

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Sweet Williams should be watered regularly but not too frequently. During the spring and summer months, water your Sweet William when the soil feels dry to the touch. During the cooler months, reduce the amount of watering to once every 2 weeks. During the warmer months, allowing the top 1 to 2 inches of soil to dry out before watering again helps prevent root rot. Be sure to check the soil before each watering to ensure your Sweet William is not getting overwatered. Additionally, do not allow the plant to stand in water.

sunlight

Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus 'Pinocchio') grows best when exposed to full sun for approximately 6 hours per day. This sun exposure should be between the hours of 11 am and 4 pm. If the plant is planted in an area that gets less sun, their flowers will likely be less vibrant, and their growth might be stunted. Sweet William also does well with some shade or filtered sunlight during the afternoons.

pruning

For pruning sweet William (Dianthus barbatus 'Pinocchio'), pruning can begin in late spring (either May or June, depending on your climate). Cut back the old flowers and stems, leaving about 1 third of the foliage. This will encourage fresh new growth. Prune evergreen forms after the flowers have faded. Prune back the stems to 10-12 cm from the base of the plant. Prune off old, dead and/or diseased foliage. Do this every 3-4 years if you would like your sweet William to remain healthy and looking its best.