Wild Sweet William

Biological Name:

Dianthus spp. (Wild-Sweet-William)

Natural Habitat:

Wild-sweet-william is a type of flowering plant that grows in a variety of environments, including woodlands, meadows, and fields. It is commonly found in Europe, Asia, and North America.

Description:

Wild-Sweet-William is a perennial herb that is native to Europe and Asia. It has small pink or white flowers and opposite oval-shaped leaves. It is often found in moist shaded areas and is used in traditional medicine.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is wild sweet William a perennial?
A: Early Summer to Autumn. Wild Sweet William is a native perennial forb growing to 3 feet high on smooth erect stems that are usually unbranched. Stems are purplish or at a minimum, streaked with purple or purple spotted – hence one of the common names – ‘Spotted Phlox’.
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Q: Do sweet williams come back year after year?
A: Sweet william is a beautiful, colourful biennial flower that will reseed itself. The plant grows for two years, blooming in the second year. The compact size of Sweet Williams makes them great for containers and pots or on a windowsill.
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Q: Will sweet williams survive the winter?
A: Sweet William seeds are tough enough to survive most winters, and can be planted in fall or late spring to bloom 12 to 18 months later. If the plants have already started growing, or if you are concerned about a harsh winter, you may keep the plants in indoor pots, then transplant them outdoors in early spring.
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Q: Do you deadhead Sweet William plants?
A: Caring for sweet William To stimulate appearance of new flowers, cut wilted flowers regularly (deadheading). The act of cutting wilting flowers off as they die helps prepare a second blooming towards the end of the season.
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Q: Does Sweet William need sun or shade?
A: 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.
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Q: What month do you plant Sweet William?
A: To grow sweet williams from seed, it’s best to sow the seeds in May-July for flowers the next year. However, some varieties, such as ‘Sweet Purple White Bicolor’ and ‘Sweet Pink Magic’, can flower the same year if started in a heated propagator in January, February, or March and planted out in April or May.
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Q: Does wild sweet William spread?
A: Also known as blue phlox or meadow phlox, wild sweet William (Phlox divaricata) is a perennial wildflower that displays clusters of lightly fragrant springtime blooms of white or pale blue atop fuzzy green stems. The plant reaches a height of 1 foot at maturity, with a spread of about 2 feet.
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Q: How many years do sweet williams last?
A: The plant grows for two years, blooming in the second year. The compact size of Sweet Williams makes them great for containers and pots or on a windowsill. Despite their small size, they also make good cut flowers – all they need for indoor splendour is a small vase.
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Q: Do you cut back sweet William in the fall?
A: Protect your sweet William plants from the winter cold by cutting back dead foliage and blooms after flowering, but don’t prune in the fall. Let the rest of the dead foliage fall to the ground to create a layer of protective mulch. Add to this a few more inches of mulch to insulate roots.
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Q: Where should you plant sweet William?
A: Sweet williams enjoy a full to partial sun location in rich, loamy soil with a light, porous composition and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. These plants are susceptible to crown rot and rust in wet conditions, so well-draining soil is a must.
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Q: What month do you plant sweet William seeds?
A: Sweet williams (Dianthus barbatus) can be grown from seed or bought as plugs or small plants. To grow sweet williams from seed, it’s best to sow the seeds in May-July for flowers the next year.
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Q: Is Sweet William a wildflower?
A: FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Phlox maculata is an upright perennial wildflower with bright green lance shaped leathery leaves. In summer, the glossy foliage is topped by large conical clusters of fragrant pinkish-purple flowers.
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Q: Does Sweet William bloom all summer?
A: With their small clusters of flowers, sweet Williams offers a splash of color right through the summer. Under the correct conditions, sweet Williams can flower from May through to October in their flowering year. Their bright range of colors includes reds, pinks, whites, purples, and bicolors.
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Q: Does sweet William like sun or shade?
A: Sweet williams enjoy a full to partial sun location in rich, loamy soil with a light, porous composition and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. These plants are susceptible to crown rot and rust in wet conditions, so well-draining soil is a must.
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Q: Do sweet William flowers smell?
A: Sweet William is one of those old-fashioned flowers: tall, vivid green stems topped with fringed petals in patchwork colours, dark tapestry rubies, fuchsia and white. Best of all, they are intensely fragrant, with a delicious, rich perfume.
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Q: Is wild sweet William edible?
A: Besides being an edible wild plant, sweet william also has medicinal applications as well. As far as being edible, sweet william can be eaten raw or added to nearly any dish, such as soups, stews, salads, and vegetable dishes.
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Q: Is sweet William poisonous to humans?
A: This plant has poison characteristics: low toxicity only if eaten and minor skin irritation iasting only for a few minutes.
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Q: What is sweet William Good For?
A: Sweet William is a good candidate for a naturalistic garden because its nectar attracts birds, bees, and butterflies. Its flowers are considered edible. Sweet Williams is a family of dianthus.
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Q: Should sweet William be cut back after flowering?
A: When the flowers of Sweet William plants have dried, gently cut them off and discard them. This will encourage new blossom growth, and prevent the plant from dropping seeds if you wish to control your garden more closely.
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Q: Is sweet William poisonous to dogs?
A: Sweet William plant, known as carnation, is a garden flower that poisons both dogs and cats. Though, mildly toxic in most cases, ingestion, if not treated can result in extreme gastrointestinal and dermal issues.
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Q: How long do sweet William plants last?
A: The plant grows for two years, blooming in the second year. The compact size of Sweet Williams makes them great for containers and pots or on a windowsill. Despite their small size, they also make good cut flowers – all they need for indoor splendour is a small vase.
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About the author

Samuel is a gardening professional and enthusiast who has spent over 20 years advising homeowners and farm owners on weed identification, prevention and removal. He has an undergraduate degree in plant and soil science from Michigan State University.