Why do I need to fertilize my Sweet william?

There are two thoughts on the origin of the sweet william name. The first is that it was named after the Duke of Cumberland, William Augustus. The second is that the name came from the writings of Thomas Tusser, an English poet. In either case, this old-fashioned garden plant (Dianthus barbatus) is a lovely addition to any space.

The Dianthus genus includes many well-known flowers such as carnation and sweet William. Dianthus are herbaceous and favor the temperate climates of their native homes of Europe and Asia. Most species are hardy perennials. However, there are also several which are annual., Grown commercially on cut flower farms, Dianthus is planted directly in the ground and can be found growing outdoors or undercover for added protection. Popular cultivars used for floristry include perpetual carnations that flower throughout the growing season. However, species of Dianthus also make lovely additions to any herbaceous garden border. We can enjoy the colorful blooms of Dianthus from late spring all the way through the autumn months, or at least up until the first frosts.