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Dianthus, Sweet William 'Sooty'

Dianthusbarbatus

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Dianthus barbatus by Lilith
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Family
Caryophyllaceae (kar-ree-oh-fil-AY-see-ee)
Info
Genus
Dianthus (dy-AN-thus)
Info
Species
barbatus (bar-BAY-tus)
Info
Synonym
Dianthus nigrescens
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Foliage
Evergreen
Smooth
Height
12-18 in. (30-45 cm)
Spacing
9-12 in. (22-30 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 2a: to -45.5 °C (-50 °F)
USDA Zone 2b: to -42.7 °C (-45 °F)
USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 °C (-40 °F)
USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 °C (-35 °F)
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Danger

Unknown - Tell us

Bloom Color
Scarlet (dark red)
Dark Purple/Black
Bloom Time
Late Spring/Early Summer
Mid Summer
Other Details
Category
Biennials
Perennials
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Dark/Black
Orange/Apricot
Where to Grow
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Can be grown as an annual
Bloom Characteristics
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Flowers are fragrant
Bloom Size

Unknown - Tell us

Other details

Unknown - Tell us

Soil pH requirements
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline)
Patent Information

Unknown - Tell us

Propagation Methods
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse
From seed; sow indoors before last frost
From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Seward, Alaska

Clayton, California

Fairfield, California

Modesto, California

Redwood City, California

Richmond, California

Mackinaw, Illinois

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Cheraw, South Carolina

Kalama, Washington

Olympia, Washington

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Gardener's Notes:

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Ancolie88
(Zone 6b) | January 2016 | positive

I love Dianthus "Sooty", because here in my garden in Innsbruck Austria it is not a biennal plant, its perennial, and stays for three, fo...Read More

L
L
llebpmac_bob
| June 2005 | neutral

I like Sweet William, but this is not one of my favorites. It looks better in the catalogue than it does in the garden, not being brightl...Read More

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