View Larger Sweet William

Planted at Mount Vernon

Planted at Mount Vernon Upper Garden

  • Upper Garden

  • Hardiness Zones

    3 3 4 4b 5 5b 6 6b 7 7b 8 8b 9 9b USDA basemap

    Average annual extreme minimum temperature 1976-2005

    map legend 3 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b

    This old-fashioned biennial with its cheerful pink and white blossoms in the late spring is a mainstay of cottage gardens.

    Purchase

    Seeds available to purchase from Mount Vernon

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    Latin Name

    Dianthus barbatus


    Family

    Caryophyllaceae


    Also Known As

    Gillyflower


    Type of Plant

    Annuals Annuals

    Bloom Season

    May - June


    Seasons

    Spring Spring

    Specifications

    Max height Max Height: 2'
    Max spread Max Spread: 1'

    Uses

  • Annual
  • Flower Border

  • Sunlight Exposure

    Full Sun Full Sun

    Tolerances

  • Deer

  • Attracted Wildlife

    Butterflies Butterflies
    Hummingbirds Hummingbirds

    Toxicity

    Do not ingest Do not ingest
    Skin irritant Skin irritant

    Colors


    Native Range

    Southern Europe


    History

    They were introduced to European gardens in the 12th by Carthusian monks and by the mid 1700s they were popular in colonial America.


    Other Details

    Sold at Mount Vernon Sold at Mount Vernon

    Bartlett Tree Expert Company has been working with Mount Vernon Estate since 2011 providing expert arboricultural care and GPS mapping for the estate’s historic trees, as well as support from their research facility.   Mount Vernon is proud to partner with Bartlett Tree Experts and appreciates their sponsorship of George Washington’s Mount Vernon Plant Finder App.

    Bring Washington's Garden Home

    Purchase our historic seeds, collected from plants grown at Mount Vernon and plant them in your own garden.

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