Dianthus Sweet Williams belongs to the family of carnations. Sweet Williams is grown in greenhouses for their spicy aroma.

Based upon the variety, the plants grow up to 7-18 inches. The flowers bloom in clusters in the spring in varied hues of white, red, pink, crimson, scarlet, and violet. These flower varieties are also known to be used for wine flavouring in France and Spain.

Dianthus Sweet Williams Flower Character

2–3 cm in diameter, the Sweet Willams flower contains five petals with serrated edges. While the red flowers with a white base are the most common, more varieties range from white, pink, and violet to variegated patterns.  Vibrant fragrant flowers, they make the perfect choice for decorating a walled garden, rock garden or simple borders in gardens.

Culinary uses of Dianthus Sweet William Blossoms

Clusters of small flowers, these vivid blossoms are intensely fragrant with a spicy scent. The flowers have a mild flavour. Sweet Williams is one of the favourite edible flowers amongst the chefs. Due to their ease of growing, they are widely used as a garnish for various salads, cakes, desserts, beverages, and signature dishes.

Dianthus Sweet William Bread Recipe



Ingredients:

• Flour 2 Cups
• Ground almonds 1/4 Cup
• Salt 1/8 teaspoon
• Butter/oil 1 Cup
• Sugar 1/2 Cup
• Vanilla essence 1/2 teaspoon
• Dianthus sweet William blossom petals 2-3 tablespoons

Method:

• Mix flour, ground almonds and salt together in a food processor.
• Add sugar, butter and essence and process for 1-2 minutes.
• Gently mix in the dianthus petals with your hands to the dough made in the processor. Make a log with the dough on a baking paper.
• Refrigerate the log for about two hours.
• Preheat oven to 165oC and bake for about 20 minutes until golden brown around the edges.  Cool on a rack and store the bread in an airtight container for up to ten days.

How to grow Sweet Williams Blossoms at home

Ornamental plants bloom in clusters in spring and grow best in cottage beds, garden borders, and containers. The plant variety is easy to grow and maintain. However, they need to be replanted after one or two years as they do not survive for long. The flower produces nectar that attracts birds, bees, moths, and butterflies.

Growing Sweet Williams Blossoms in pots

Dianthus Sweet Williams is perfect for growing in pots and containers due to their compact size. These are grown from the seeds. They can be directly seeded into a flower garden or a container, or seeded indoors for transplanting method.

Follow the simple steps below for growing Sweet Williams in pots.

• Begin the seeds indoors 2-8 weeks prior to the last frost for your area. To direct sow outdoors, plant seeds 1/8 inch deep once the frost has passed. The flowers will bloom in the spring before the summer the arrives. It will take 10-15 days for the seeds to germinate.

• Once the seeds have germinated, transplant them to pots or containers. Sweet William plants thrive in full sun but can tolerate light shade. Plant them in a spot where they receive sunlight for at least 4-5 hours in a day.

• The plants prefer rich fertile, mildly alkaline (PH 6.75) and well-drained soil. You can add organic fertilizer when planting them. Once the plant has 3-5 leaves, thin them 8-12 inches apart.  Keep the plant well weeded. Layering the soil with a thin layer of mulch facilitates moisture retention, hence you can apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch. This will also improve air circulation.

• The soil should be kept moist. Water them once or twice a week as Sweet Williams plants cannot bear overwatering. It can turn the foliage yellow. Continuous air circulation around the stems is necessary for optimal growth of the plant.

• Some of the pests and insects that can infect Dianthus Sweet Williams include nematodes, slugs, sowbugs and grasshoppers. Aphids may also feed on the stems but can be easily controlled with a spray of water from a hose.

Harvesting Sweet Williams Blossoms flower for garnishes

Pick the fresh flowers for garnishes and toppings. It is best to pick them in the morning before the sunlight falls upon the plant to retain its aroma and freshness.

You can buy pure, non-hybrid, non-GMO Sweet William Blossoms seeds at AllThatGrows.