Common Name: sweet William
Type: Annual
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Zone: 4 to 8
Height: 0.50 to 0.75 feet
Spread: 0.50 to 0.75 feet
Bloom Time: May to June
Bloom Description: Whites, pinks, reds, red-purples (bi-colors)
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
Suggested Use: Annual
Flower: Showy
Tolerate: Deer
Culture
Best grown in deep, organically rich, well-drained soils in full sun, but generally appreciates some light afternoon shade in hot summer climates such as the St. Louis area. RONDO is a biennial or short-lived perennial dianthus that may be grown from seed. Seed may be started in the garden in early fall (for bloom the following year). Nursery plants may also be planted in fall. Seed may be started indoors in early spring or in cold frames for bloom the first year. Seed may also be planted in the garden in spring near the last frost date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, cold-treated plants may be purchased from nurseries in early spring and grown as annuals. In optimum growing conditions, this dianthus will reseed each year and remain in the garden for many years. Prompt deadheading of spent flowers (shear back large plantings) promotes perennial tendencies.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Bedding dianthus, often called pinks or carnations, may be Chinese pinks (Dianthus chinensis) or a hybrid of Chinese pinks with sweet William (D. barbatus). When crossed, these two species produce an interspecific hybrid, commonly called hybrid pink, which can be used as a vigorous annual, flowering from seed, with superior performance to both species regarding length of flower production and heat/frost tolerance. These plants can also be quite hardy, and grown as perennials, but are often shorter lived than other dianthus hybrids. Bedding dianthus often have medium green leaves that are wider compared to perennial dianthus cultivars.
Genus name comes from the Greek words dios meaning divine and anthos meaning flower.
The common name of pink for plants in the genus Dianthus is in probable reference to the fringed flower petal margins (they appear to have been cut with pinking shears) and not to flower color.
RONDO typically grows to 8” tall. It features mostly bi-colored flowers in mixtures of whites, pinks, reds and reddish-purples. Flowers typically bloom from spring to early summer. Lance-shaped medium green leaves.
Problems
Susceptible to crown rot and rust, particularly in poorly-drained soils. Watch for snails and slugs.
Uses
Beds and borders. Containers.