Dianthus barbatus L.

Caryophyllus barbatus Moench, Cylichnanthus barbatus Dulac, Dianthus aggregatus Poir, Dianthus corymbosus F. Dietr., Dianthus girardini Lamotte, Dianthus hispanicus Dum Cours. nom. illeg., Dianthus latifolius Willd., Dianthus pulcherrimus Loisel., Dianthus splendidissimus Hoffmanns.

Caryophyllaceae

Carnation, Pink, Sweet William

The species is found in the mountains of southern Europe from the Pyrenees East to the Carpathians and the Balkans, with a variety disjunct in northeastern China, Korea and southeasternmost Russia (Lu and Turland 2001; Flora Europaea 2013).

Sweet William is a cool climate species. It prefers a rich, well-drained loamy, mildly alkaline soil in a sunny position but succeeds in most soils including moderately dry soil and partial shade. It is propagated from seeds, cuttings or division, but seeds of cultivars will not breed true.