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    Home»Herbs and Spices»Facts about Sweet William
    Herbs and Spices

    Facts about Sweet William

    By SylviaMarch 27, 2018Updated:March 27, 2018No Comments4 Mins Read
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    Facts about Sweet William

      Dianthus barbatus (Sweet William) is a species of Dianthus native to the mountains of southern Europe from the Pyrenees east to the Carpathians and the Balkans, with a variety disjunctive in northeastern China, Korea, and south easternmost Russia which has become a popular ornamental garden plant. Some of the popular common names of the plant include Sweet-William, Sweetwilliam, Bearded pink, China carnation and sweet William pink. It is an herbaceous biennial or short-lived perennial plant in the pink family (Caryophyllaceae), growing to 13–92 cm tall, with flowers in a dense cluster of up to 30 at the top of the stems. Genus name comes from the Greek words dios meaning divine and anthos meaning flower. The two words put together mean “flowers of God.” Specific epithet means bearded or with long, weak hairs.

    Many sources contend that the flower was named for William Augustus, duke of Cumberland, who led British forces against the Jacobites at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Other sources claim, however, that the name of the flower can be traced to the writings of Thomas Tusser, a 16th-century English poet. In Scotland the flower is known as stinking Willie or sour Billy.

    Plant Description

    Sweet William is an herbaceous biennial or short-lived perennial plant growing about 30–75 cm tall with flowers in a dense cluster of up to 30 at the top of the stems. The plant is found growing in sunny location and does best in rich, well-drained loamy, mildly alkaline soil but succeeds in most soils including moderately dry soil and partial shade. The plant has erected angular stems and green to glaucous, lanceolate blue green leaves that are 4–10 cm long and 1–2 cm broad, apex acute, base tapering. The plant is usually treated as a garden biennial, seeds are sown the first year producing flowering plants the second year.

    Flower & fruit

    Each flower is 2–3 cm diameter with five petals displaying serrated edges. Wild plants produce red flowers with a white base, but colors in cultivars range from white, pink, red, and purple to variegated patterns, sometimes with a contrasting eye, and with fringed petals that are bearded on the inside. Flowers may be fragrant, although many of the newer cultivars have no scent. The flowers are edible and may have medicinal properties. Sweet William attracts bees, birds, and butterflies.

    The plant is available year round, with each stem producing a ‘spray’ of several flowers- the average being 10-15 blooms per stem. The average stem length is a minimum of 40cm and a maximum of 67cm. Each bloom opens into a delightfully rounded petal with a gorgeous rounded center. Flowers are followed by capsules that are sub oblong to ovoid, 4 valved, 1 cm across with smooth, compressed, brown ovoid seeds. Flowering normally takes place from Jul to August and seeds starts ripening from Aug to September.

    Sweet William Image Gallery
    Closer-view-of-the-Sweet-William-flower Closer-view-of-the-Sweet-William-flower
    Different-varieties-of-Sweet-William Different-varieties-of-Sweet-William
    Flowering-buds-of-Sweet-William-plant Flowering-buds-of-Sweet-William-plant

    Flower-of-Sweet-William-plant Flower-of-Sweet-William-plant
    Leaves-of-Sweet-William-plant Leaves-of-Sweet-William-plant
    Plant-Illustration-of-Sweet-William Plant-Illustration-of-Sweet-William

    Root-of-Sweet-William-plant Root-of-Sweet-William-plant
    Seeds-of-the-Sweet-William Seeds-of-the-Sweet-William
    Sketch-of-Sweet-William-plant Sketch-of-Sweet-William-plant

    Small-Sweet-William-plant Small-Sweet-William-plant
    Stem-of-Sweet-William-plant Stem-of-Sweet-William-plant
    Sweet-William-Plant Sweet-William-Plant

    Varieties

    There are two varieties of Dianthus barbatus which are listed below

    • Dianthus barbatus var. barbatus: Southern Europe. Leaves broader, up to 2 cm broad
    • Dianthus barbatus var. asiaticus Nakai: Northeastern Asia. Leaves slenderer, not over 1 cm broad

    Culinary uses

    • Flowers are edible, have a mild flavor and are used as a garnish for vegetable and fruit salads, cakes, desserts, cold drinks, tea and sorbet.
    • Petals of Sweet William will add zest to ice cream, sorbets, salads, fruit salad, dessert sauces, seafood and stir-fries.

    Other Facts

    • Sweet William is a popular ornamental plant in gardens, planted in pots, flats or in beds.
    • Plant produces nectar that attracts birds, bees, moths and butterflies.
    • In Scotland the flower is known as stinking Willie or sour Billy.
    • Flower would make a lovely addition to a wedding bouquet, table centerpiece or just about any style of flower arrangement.
    • Sweet William will attract hummingbirds and butterflies into the garden.
    • This flower symbolizes gallantry.

    References:

    https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=20277#null

    https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/37998/

    https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=13817

    https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Dianthus+barbatus

    http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a573

    http://www.floracatalana.net/dianthus-barbatus-l-subsp-barbatus

    http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-2763865

    https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=DIBA

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dianthus_barbatus

    https://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/chiwonlee/plsc211/student%20papers/articles05/keizer,%20sarah/skeizer/skeizer.htm

    https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/wildseed/38/38.1.html

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    Sweet William Facts

    Sweet William Quick Facts
    Name: Sweet William
    Scientific Name: Dianthus barbatus
    Origin Southern Europe from the Pyrenees East to the Carpathians and the Balkans
    Shapes Capsule sub oblong to ovoid, 4 valved, 1 cm across
    Name Sweet William
    Scientific Name Dianthus barbatus
    Native Mountains of southern Europe from the Pyrenees East to the Carpathians and the Balkans
    Common Names Sweet-William, Sweetwilliam, Bearded pink, China carnation, sweet William pink
    Name in Other Languages Burmese : Mani Soythu Pan
    Catalan: Clavell de gitana, Clavell de pom
    Chinese : Tou Shi Zhu, Wǔcǎi shízhú (五彩石竹), Shí yàng jǐn (十样锦), Měiguó shízhú (美国石竹)
    Czech : Hvozdík Bradatý, Hvozdík Vousatý
    Danish : Busk Nellike, Studenter-Nellike
    Dutch : Duizendschoon
    English: Sweet-William, Sweetwilliam, Bearded pink, China carnation, sweet William pink,
    Estonian : Habenelk
    Esperanto : Dianto Barba
    Finnish : Harjaneilikka
    French : Oeillet Barbu, Oeillet Des Poètes, Oeillet de Girardin
    German : Bart-Nelke, Busch-Nelke, Brennende Liebe, Hermannstädter Veilchen, Herrische Blume, Marienröschen, Nägelblume, Steinnägelblume, Steinnägelchen, Tausendschönchen
    Hungarian: szakállos szegfü, szegfü, szegfüvirág, török szegfü
    Icelandic : Busknellik
    Italian : Garofano Montano
    Japanese : Amerika-Nadeshiko, Hosoba-Hige- Nadeshiko
    Norwegian : Busknellik
    Nynorsk, Norwegian: Busknellik
    Norwegian Bokmål: Busknellik
    Polish : Goździk Brodaty
    Portuguese: Cravina-roxa,
    Romanian: anghel, buruiene de ghiţei, buruiene de jerme, cocoşei, cuişoare, cărujea, cărînjea, de jerme, garoafa, garoafă de grădină, garoafă turcească, garofita, garofite de gradina, garofiţe, garofiţe de grădină, grozdică, gvordici, Inger, neghinele, pietrucele, puşca lupului, sacfiu, sacfiu nemţesc, sacfiu turcesc, sacfiu tărcat, samfiu, sanfiu, scaunul popii, scînteuţă, secfiu, susfirăgi, sălcuţă, ursinica, ursuele, ursărele, ursărele, vîzdoance ungureşti, zaschiu sălbatic, ţelfiu
    Slovašcina : Brkati Nageljček, Klinček Brkati,
    Nageljček, Sorta
    Slovencina: Klinček Bradatý
    Spanish : Clavel Imperial
    Swedish : Borstnejlika, Harjaneilikka
    Turkey : Hüsnüyusuf
    Ukrainian: Hvozdek
    Welsh : Penigan Barfog
    Plant Growth Habit Herbaceous biennial or short-lived perennial plant
    Growing Climates Sunny locations
    Soil Rich, well-drained loamy, mildly alkaline soil but succeeds in most soils including moderately dry soil and partial shade.
    Plant Size 30–75 cm tall
    Stem Erect angular stems
    Leaf Green to glaucous, lanceolate 4–10 cm by 1–2 cm wide, apex acute, base tapering
    Flowering Periods Jul to August
    Flower Flowers (2–3.5 cm across) numerous produced in clusters at the top of the stem; bracts 4 almost as long as calyx tube, with membranous, ciliate margins
    Fruit Shape & Size Capsule sub oblong to ovoid, 4 valved, 1 cm across
    Seed Smooth, compressed, brown ovoid seeds.
    Flavor/Aroma Spicy, clove-like scent
    Varieties •             Dianthus barbatus var. barbatus
    •             Dianthus barbatus var. asiaticus Nakai
    Season Aug to September
    Propagation Seeds, cuttings or division

    Sweet William Scientific Classification

    Scientific Name: Dianthus barbatus

    Rank Scientific Name & (Common Name)
    Kingdom Plantae (Plants)
    Subkingdom Tracheobionta (Vascular plants)
    Infrakingdom Streptophyta  (land plants)
    Superdivision Spermatophyta (Seed plants)
    Division Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants)
    Class Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons)
    Subclass Caryophyllidae
    Order Caryophyllales
    Family Caryophyllaceae (Pink family)
    Genus Dianthus L. (pink)
    Species Dianthus barbatus L. (sweetwilliam)
    Synonyms
    • Caryophyllus barbatus Moench
    • Cylichnanthus barbatus Dulac
    • Dianthus aggregatus Poir
    • Dianthus corymbosus F.Dietr
    • Dianthus girardinii Lamotte
    • Dianthus hispanicus Dum.Cours
    • Dianthus latifolius Willd
    • Dianthus pulcherrimus Loisel
    • Dianthus splendidissimus Hoffmanns
    • Silene barbata E.H.L.Krause
    • Tunica barbata Scop.
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