Pollinator plant

Sweet William

Dianthus barbatus

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Common names

35 names · 26 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (25)
Dutch
  • Duidendschoon
  • duizendschoon[3][4]
French
  • Oeillet de Girardin[3][4]
  • Oeillet de poète
  • Œillet barbu[3][4]
Belarusian
  • Гваздзік барадаты[4]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 须苞石竹[4]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 亞美尼亞瞿麥[4]
  • 鬚苞石竹[4]
Czech
  • hvozdík vousatý[4]
Danish
  • Studenter-nellike[4]
Estonian
Finnish
  • harjaneilikka[4]
German
Hungarian
  • török szegfű[4]
Italian
Japanese
  • アメリカナデシコ[4]
Korean
  • 수염패랭이꽃[4]
Latvian
  • klinšu noraga[4]
  • čemuru neļķe[4]
Lithuanian
  • Šiurpinis gvazdikas[4]
Norwegian
  • busknellik[4]
Polish
  • Goździk brodaty[4]
Russian
  • Гвоздика бородатая[4]
  • Гвоздика турецкая[4]
Slovak
  • klinček bradatý[4]
Slovenian
  • brkati klinček[4]
Spanish
Swedish
  • borstnejlika[4]
Turkish
  • hüsnüyusuf[4]
Ukrainian
  • Гвоздика турецька[4]
Sources & name notes (5)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Dianthus barbatus — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Sweet William — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Dianthus barbatus.
  • Sweet John — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Dianthus barbatus.
[2] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • sweet william — Page 3, column 1, row top 727 pt; common-name cell after Dianthus barbatus.; Dianthus barbatus.
[3] Dianthus barbatus — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Sweet William — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • Sweet-William — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • Bart-Nelke — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • Bartnelke — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • Clavel — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • Oeillet de Girardin — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • Œillet barbu — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • Garofano montano — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • duizendschoon — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
[4] Dianthus barbatus — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Sweet William — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • Sweet-William — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • Bart-Nelke — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • Bartnelke — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • Clavel — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • Oeillet de Girardin — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • Œillet barbu — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • Garofano montano — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • duizendschoon — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • harjaneilikka — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • hvozdík vousatý — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • Šiurpinis gvazdikas — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • Studenter-nellike — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • busknellik — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • Гвоздика бородатая — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • Гвоздика турецкая — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • アメリカナデシコ — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • habenelk — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • borstnejlika — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • 须苞石竹 — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • 鬚苞石竹 — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • 亞美尼亞瞿麥 — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • Гвоздика турецька — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • Гваздзік барадаты — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • brkati klinček — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • Goździk brodaty — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • török szegfű — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • hüsnüyusuf — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • klinček bradatý — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • čemuru neļķe — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • klinšu noraga — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
  • 수염패랭이꽃 — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 60015; Dianthus barbatus.
[5] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Dianthus barbatus ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Sweet-William (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 149450; taxon 6CPY4.
  • Bart-Nelke (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 149449; taxon 6CPY4.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Dianthus barbatus is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Caryophyllaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.3–0.61 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.15–0.3 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Dense; Erect; Rounded

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Annual; Biennial; Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, moths.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Dianthus barbatus in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3]
Native range
European Mts., S. Russian Far East to N. Korea.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [4]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Low
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Herbaceous
Size
Small
Dimensions
0.60 m high × 0.00 m wide
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifecycle
Perennial
Foliage
Deciduous

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
4-10
Moisture
Well-drained, Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Flowers
Functions
Fragrant
Edibility
1 out of 5
Medicinal value
0 out of 5

The flowers have a subtle taste and are often used as decoration on vegetable and fruit salads, cakes, desserts, and in cold drinks.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Dianthus barbatus — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 2067185; ID 6CPY4; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 2067185; ID 6CPY4; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Dianthus barbatus — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Garden Plants

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 3, column 1, entry Dianthus barbatus (top 727 pt)

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Dianthus barbatus — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 1372174; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1332747, 1332749, 1332751, 1332752, 1332753, 1332754, 1332756, 1332757, 1332758, 1332759, 1332760, 1332766, 1332772, 1332778, 1332779

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.