ExplorePlants

Sweet-William

Dianthus barbatus

Sweet-William is a colorful flower that blooms in many shades like pink, red, and white. It has a lovely scent and attracts butterflies, making gardens beautiful and lively.

Habitat: Gardens

Appearance

The Sweet-William has dense clusters of small, fringed flowers, often displaying vibrant shades of pink, red, white, or purple. Many varieties feature intricate patterns or contrasting 'eyes' in the center, making them visually distinct from simple blossoms.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderCaryophyllalesFamilyCaryophyllaceaeGenusDianthus
Sweet-William
ornamental trait badgebiennial trait badgecluster_flower trait badgespring_blooming trait badge
Sweet-William

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

2

Interesting facts

Some Sweet-William varieties amazingly change color as their flowers mature!

The scientific name 'Dianthus' astonishingly means 'Flower of God' in Greek!

These cheerful flowers can survive cool weather, often blooming well into autumn!

You can actually eat the petals of Sweet-William; they taste a bit like cloves!

Special abilities

Ability

Pollinator Beacon

Sweet-William can attract bees and butterflies with its bright, clustered flowers, acting as a colorful landing strip for busy insects.

Ability

Self-Seeding Spreader

Sweet-William has a clever way of dropping seeds, allowing new plants to pop up in unexpected places year after year.

Ability

Fragrant Charm

Sweet-William can release a subtle, clove-like scent that helps attract pollinators, making it an aromatic delight.

Measurements & details

Height
30-60 cm
Spread
20-30 cm
Flower Size
1-2 cm
Bloom Season
Late spring to mid-summer
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
Mild
Lifecycle
Biennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

European honey bee

Apis mellifera

Gathers nectar and pollen

pollinates

Painted Lady butterfly

Vanessa cardui

Sips nectar from flowers

eats

Garden Snail

Helix aspersa

Consumes leaves and petals

Traits

Also known as

Dianthus

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always ask an adult before picking flowers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Sweet-William?

The easiest way to identify Sweet-William is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

How tall is Sweet-William?

30-60 cm

How wide does Sweet-William spread?

20-30 cm

How big are the flowers on Sweet-William?

1-2 cm

When does Sweet-William bloom?

Late spring to mid-summer

Is Sweet-William edible?

Yes

Is Sweet-William toxic?

Mild

What is Sweet-William's lifecycle?

Biennial

Snap Map

Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

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Where to spot

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