What were the virtues of sweet Williams?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
May 19, 2003
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Sweet Williams (Dianthus barbatus Linnaeus) are native to the Pyrenees, the Carpathian Mountains, and the Balkans. The plants were well established in English gardens by the 1500s. John Gerard (The Herbal, 1633 edition) knew the wide-leafed varieties as sweet Williams and the narrow-leafed as sweet Johns.
Gerard appeared proud of his sweet Williams, "We have in our London gardens a kinde hereof bearing most fine and pleasant white floures, spotted very confusedly with reddish spots, which setteth forth the beauty thereof: and hath bin taken of some...to be the plant called of the later Writers Superba Austriaca, or the Pride of Austria." In 1633, Thomas Johnson added, "It is now commonly in most places called London-Pride."
Sweet Williams, especially the older varieties, are lightly fragrant and were used as nosegays. Out of character with most of his writing, Gerard dedicated almost three pages to describing various sweet Johns and sweet Williams, plants for which he had no practical uses. "These plants are kept and maintained in gardens more for to please the eye, than either the nose or belly."
Perhaps Gerard was charmed by the plants (or the ladies that wore them) for he did grant that sweet Williams had virtues, "These...are not used either in meat or medicine, but esteemed for their beauty to decke up gardens, the bosomes of the beautifull; garlands and crownes for pleasure."
Den Virtuella Floran has photographs of various sweet Williams taken by Arne and Anna-Lena Anderberg and Börje Wernersson. To view the photographs, click on the link:
http://linnaeus.nrm.se/flora/di/caryophylla/diant/dianbar.html
Click on the thumbnails to enlarge the images.
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading:
China Pinks (Dianthus) Plant of the Week - May 9, 2005
What color became the name of a flower? What's in a Name? - May 24, 2002
What were the medicinal uses of carnations? Herbal Folklore - May 20, 2002
What was the nail of the gillyflower? What's in a Name? - March 14, 2003
Who was Silenus? What's in a Name? - July 15, 2005
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Gardens Alive! -$20 off—>Click here.
Michigan Bulb -$20 off—>Click here.
Unique Professionally Designed Gardens
Springhill Nursery®
Spring Hill Nursery has unique gardens professionally designed by experts to take the guesswork out of gardening. Whether you are looking for a three season garden, foundation garden, or a garden to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, Spring Hill Nursery has created a step-by-step design just for you.
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Crimson and White Sweet William
Springhill Nursery®
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This charming old fashioned garden favorite grows 12-15" tall and has large clusters of small fragrant blooms which are loved by butterflies. Its crimson red blossoms are edged in white, making for a bright showy display in borders and rock gardens.
Blooms from early summer into fall keeping your garden in full color.
Received the Fleuroselect Quality Award symbolizing a variety judged to be superior to the previously existing assortment. Plant in full sun or partial shade. Space 12-15" apart.
Shipped in 3" pot.
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Dianthus barbatus 'Heritage Crimson and White' Zone 7 to 9
Charming old fashioned garden favorite. Full flower heads of crimson red centers surrounded by white make this a standout for bedding plantings especially when combined with Noverna Purple and Rose Heritage Dianthus.
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[More Sweet William!]
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Noverna Purple Sweet William
Springhill Nursery®
Blooms earlier than other dianthus-starting late spring-and continue through fall, bearing large clusters of light purple blooms. Possesses the same delectable, spicy scent of old-fashioned Sweet William. Tidy plants, 12-15" tall and wide, are excellent at the front of borders and in pots.
Shipped in 3" pot.
Dianthus barbatus 'Noverna Purple' Zone 7 to 9
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Dianthus barbatus is a sweet smelling garden favorite for its old fashioned charm, scent and extended bloom time. Noverna Purple is the first genuine annual Sweet William that does not require a cold period for flower induction. Therefore providing an earlier bloom start time making it a superb bedding plant.
Fleuroselect Gold Medal winner - recognition for an excellent variety that surpasses the limits in breeding beauty.
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[More Sweet William!]
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Sweet William Collection
Springhill Nursery®
This collection includes 3 each of two gorgeous varieties of Sweet William!
Noverna Purple Sweet William: Blooms earlier than other dianthus - starting late spring - and continues through fall, bearing large clusters of light purple blooms.
Crimson and White Sweet William: Charming, old-fashioned garden favorite. Full, 3-4" flower heads of crimson red appear to be edged with white lace.
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These Sweet William varieties flower late spring to fall on 12-15" plants.
Zone 7 to 9
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Red Cardinal Weigela
Gurney's Seed and Nursery®
Flowers the Very First Year
A fast bloomer! Red Cardinal Weigela has bell-shaped crimson blossoms cover the sweeping branches early summer to frost by the very first summer.
Grows 6-8 feet tall.
Zones: 4 - 8 (-20° F.)
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Flowering shrubs are bargains in beauty. They produce a profusion of flowers and foliage- a feast for or senses- and seem equally attractive to birds, butterflies and hummingbirds. Even when they’re not in bloom, many add interest to the landscape. Shrubs grow fast, last nearly forever and require a minimum care.
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Sensational Flowering Freedom Lilac Collection
Springhill Nursery®
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The Sensational Flowering Freedom Lilac Collection includes one each of the following four varieties:
Primrose: The rare, soft yellow lilac is much sought after yet seldom found. Vastly improved plants are carefree; grow with vigor. They create extremely healthy shrubs with both elegant foliage and exceptional flowers. Intensely fragrant blooms in late spring. Lovely heart-shaped leaves. Reaches a height of 8-10’, spreads 10-12’. Ideal as bushy hedges or small flowering trees.
Sensation: In early to mid-spring, this one of a kind bicolor lilac is loaded with dramatic clusters of stunning purple blooms uniquely trimmed with
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distinctive white edges. Sweet fragrance outdoors and in bouquets. Useful as a border shrub and in a colorful hedge. Sensation’s hear-shaped leaves turn yellow in fall. Grows 10-15’ tall and spreads 10-12’.
Beauty of Moscow: Bred in Russia by hybrids Leonid Kolesnikov. The large, gorgeous, white double flowers with a tingle of pink are perfectly formed and strongly fragrant. Reaches 15’ high and spreads 6-12’ wide. Hardy.
Charles Joly: The vivid coloration of the deep, wine red flowers of this variety is considered to be the best in its color class. A warm welcome hue in any garden. Grows up to 15’ tall.
Shipped in 4" pots. Deer tend to avoid.
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