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Sweetly scented

Sweet William is not only popular as a cut flower but adds colour to gardens

Sweet William or Dianthus barbatus, belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae, is a low growing evergreen shrub and a perennial. A popular bedding plant found in South Africa, Europe and Asia, they are grown for their beautiful flowers borne in profusion over a long period in summer. They last long even after they are cut. Sweet William grows up to 50-60 cm in height. The flowers are sweetly scented.

Dianthus dark crimson has deep bronze, green foliage and blood red flowers.

Dianthus auriculata has bicoloured crimson, red, purple, rose pink or salmon pink flowers with well-defined pale centres.

Dianthus Indian carpet has crimson, purple or pink flowers with many bicolours.

Dianthus Badbalus Roundabout series cultivars are bushy plants with single flowers, purple-red, pink, salmon pink or white, sometimes bicoloured and dotted with a paler colour at the base. These are used in beds.

Propagation is by seed or cutting. Plant these in well-drained loamy soil enriched with well-rotted manure in full sun and top dress with a balanced granular fertilizer. Once established the plants replace themselves from the seeds that get scattered around.

CHITRA RADHAKRISHNAN

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