Maybe I got this seed from Ebay or the St. Patty's Seed Swap that we hosted. But since it is in my stash, why not germinate it?
It is labeled biennial or short live perennial, but i saw it live longer than that. Why? Because it self seed. If you don't take the plant out in the garden, leave it to over winter, the seeds fall down in the ground, and germinate itself, and there goes another batch of Sweet William on your garden. Pretty neat, huh?
From the looks of it, these pretty flowers are destined for greatness. What do you think?
Here is the flower:)
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.