Dianthus barbatus

"Sweet william" redirects here. For the folk song sometimes known by that name, see Lord William.

Dianthus barbatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Core eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Caryophyllaceae
Genus:	Dianthus
Species:	D. barbatus
Binomial name
Dianthus barbatus L.

Dianthus barbatus (Sweet William) is a species of Dianthus native to southern Europe and parts of Asia which has become a popular ornamental garden plant. It is a herbaceous biennial or short-lived perennial plant growing to 30–75 cm tall, with flowers in a dense cluster of up to 30 at the top of the stems. Each flower is 2–3 cm diameter with five petals displaying serrated edges. Wild plants produce red flowers with a white base, but colours in cultivars range from white, pink, red, and purple or with variegated patterns. The exact origin of its English common name is unknown, but first appears in 1596 in botanist John Gerard's garden catalog. The flowers are edible and may have medicinal properties. Sweet William attracts bees, birds, and butterflies, and was included in Catherine Middleton's 2011 bridal bouquet.

Description

Sweet William is a herbaceous biennial or short-lived perennial plant native to 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.^[1][2][3] It grows to 30–75 cm tall, with green to glaucous blue-green tapered leaves 4–10 cm long and 1–2 cm broad. The flowers are produced in a dense cluster of up to 30 at the top of the stems and have a spicy, clove-like scent; each flower is 2–3 cm diameter with five petals with serrated edges; in wild plants the petals are red with a white base.^[3][4][5]

There are two varieties:^[3]

• 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.

English name

John Gerard

Many legends purport to explain how Sweet William acquired its English common name, but none is verified. "Sweet William" is often said to honour the 18th century Prince William, Duke of Cumberland. As a result of the Duke's victory at the Battle of Culloden and his generally brutal treatment of the king's enemies, it is also claimed that the Scots sometimes call the flower "Stinking Billy".^[6][7][8] Though this makes a nice story, it is entirely untrue. The Scots sometimes refer to the noxious ragwort, not Dianthus barbatus, as "Stinking Billy" in memory of the infamous Duke. Also, the English botanist John Gerard referred to Dianthus barbatus as "Sweete Williams" in his garden catalogue of 1596, 150 years before Culloden.^[9] Phillips speculated that the flower was named after Gerard's contemporary, William Shakespeare.^[10] It is also said to be named after Saint William of York or after William the Conqueror. Another etymological derivation is that william is a corruption of the French oillet, meaning "little eye". Sweet William is a favourite name for lovelorn young men in English folkloric ballads, e.g., "Fair Margaret and Sweet William."

Cultivation and uses

Sweet William is a popular ornamental plant in gardens, with numerous cultivars and hybrids selected for differing flower colour, ranging from white, pink, red, and purple or with variegated patterns.^[5]

Full-grown plants

The plant was introduced to northern Europe in the 16th century, and later to North America and elsewhere, and has become locally to widely naturalised in these areas.^[4][11]

John Gerard praises its beauty but omits any reference to medicinal uses. Its height makes it convenient for flower arrangements. In the Victorian language of flowers, Sweet William symbolizes gallantry. The plant is widely used in borders, rock gardens and informal country cottage style gardens. Sweet William is a good candidate for a naturalistic garden because its nectar attracts birds, bees, and butterflies. Its flowers are considered edible.

It thrives in loamy, slightly alkaline soil with sun to partial shade. Propagation is by seed, cuttings, or division, but seeds of cultivars will not breed true. If it is planted from seed after the last frost, it will flower in the second year. If it is planted in flats before the last frost and then transplanted it may flower in the first year. Some gardeners recommend deadheading to encourage further flowering. The plant is self-seeding. Sweet William can suffer from Fusarium Wilt which causes the leaves to curl or droop down.

In 1977 the question of possible medical uses was revisited by Cordell. Saponins were found in Sweet William, but there has been little followup.

On 29 April 2011, Catherine Middleton included Sweet William in her bouquet, a tribute to her groom, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.

Gallery

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  pot plant D.barbatus

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  'Heart Attack' flower cluster closeup

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  'Heart Attack' flower cluster

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  'Heart Attack' top view

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  'Heart Attack' plants

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References

1. ^ Flora Europaea: Dianthus barbatus
2. ^ Med-Checklist: Dianthus barbatus
3. ^ ^{a b c} Flora of China: Dianthus barbatus var. asiaticus
4. ^ ^{a b} Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). Flora of Britain and Northern Europe. ISBN 0-340-40170-2
5. ^ ^{a b} Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.
6. ^ Meyer, D. (1987). "The Highland Scots of North Carolina, 1732-1776", p.14. Univ. N. Carolina Press
7. ^ Hairr, J. (2002). "Harnett County: A History", pp23-24. Arcadia Publishing
8. ^ Ross, DR. (2001). "On the Trail of Bonnie Prince Charlie", p.112. Dundurn Press
9. ^ Gerard, J. (1596). Catalogus arborum, fruticum ac plantarum tam indigenarum, quam exoticarum, in horto Iohannis Gerardis. http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/30619#page/49/mode/1up
10. ^ Phillips, H. (1829). "Flora Historica", p.43. E. Lloyd & Son
11. ^ Missouriplants: Dianthus barbatus