Sweet William Etournelle Scarlet seeds - Dianthus barbatus
Sweet William Etournelle Scarlet seeds - Dianthus barbatus
Dianthus barbatus Etournelle Scarlet
Sweet William
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Description
Sowing Sweet William or Dianthus barbatus ‘Etournelle Scarlet’ from seed means you can grow this upright biennial at low cost. It is remarkable for its intense scarlet red flowers, borne in dense, slightly fragrant clusters. This vigorous variety develops light green, lanceolate foliage that highlights the vibrancy of its flowering from June to August, making it a reliable choice for beds, borders and country bouquets. Sow the seeds under cover from January to February as a late-flowering annual, or from June to July to flower the following spring. It grows in moist, rich, well-drained soil, in sun or partial shade.
Dianthus barbatus is a plant from the Caryophyllaceae family found in many temperate regions of Europe and Asia. Not very perennial but hardy, it is most often considered biennial, flowering in the second year after sowing. 'Etournelle Scarlet' quickly forms a very tight basal clump of long, light green to glaucous leaves with pointed tips. The size of the plants varies from 40 to 50 cm in height when in flower, in June. The small flowers gathered into flattened cymes 8 to 15 cm in diameter are borne at the end of thin, sturdy stems. The scent of the flowers is spicy and sweet, reminiscent of clove and cinnamon.
Sweet William ‘Etournelle Scarlet’ brings vibrant energy to summer borders with its scarlet red inflorescences standing like torches above light green foliage. To balance this intensity, it can be paired with Campanula glomerata 'Superba', whose purple clusters bring a soothing freshness. Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen' extends the red palette with its cherry pink umbels, while Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna', with its purple spikes, adds structural height and attracts pollinators. In pots, these combinations create dynamic compositions, perfect for enlivening sunny terraces and balconies.
Flowering
Foliage
Plant habit
Botanical data
Dianthus
barbatus
Etournelle Scarlet
Caryophyllaceae
Sweet William
Cultivar or hybrid
Planting and care
Sow Sweet William Etournelle Scarlet seeds indoors or in a greenhouse from January to February as a late-flowering annual, or from June to July to flower in spring.
Sow on the surface of a good quality, well-drained compost. Place the seed tray in a propagator at a temperature of 15-20°C, or in a clear polythene bag until germination which takes 7-21 days. Keep the compost moist but not waterlogged and do not exclude light.
When the seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant into 8cm pots and allow the young plants to develop in cooler conditions. When all risk of frost has passed, gradually acclimatise them to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days before transplanting outside. Space them 30cm apart, and plant in any fertile, well-drained soil in full sun.
Sowing period
Intended location
Planting & care advice
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Hardiness is the lowest winter temperature a plant can endure without suffering serious damage or even dying. However, hardiness is affected by location (a sheltered area, such as a patio), protection (winter cover) and soil type (hardiness is improved by well-drained soil).
In temperate climates, pruning of spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, spireas, etc.) should be done just after flowering.
Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs (Indian Lilac, Perovskia, etc.) can be done in winter or spring.
In cold regions as well as with frost-sensitive plants, avoid pruning too early when severe frosts may still occur.
The harvesting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions in USDA zone 8 (France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...) fruit and vegetable harvests are likely to be delayed by 3-4 weeks.
In warmer areas (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), harvesting will probably take place earlier, depending on weather conditions.
The sowing periods indicated on our website apply to countries and regions within USDA Zone 8 (France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...), delay any outdoor sowing by 3-4 weeks, or sow under glass.
In warmer climes (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), bring outdoor sowing forward by a few weeks.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a (East Coast and Midlands: Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Portlaoise). It will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the north-west (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal, Westport), delay planting by 1 to 2 weeks in spring and bring it forward by 1 to 2 weeks in autumn compared to the dates given, preferably choosing periods without strong winds.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (Wicklow Mountains, Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, Connemara, Killarney), it is best to plant in spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October), avoiding periods of waterlogged soil in winter and strong winds, which pose the main risk to newly planted trees in these areas.
The flowering period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a, such as the East Coast and Midlands, including Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny and Portlaoise.
This will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the northwest (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal and Westport), it will be delayed by one to two weeks compared to the given dates, due to stronger Atlantic winds and less spring sunshine.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (the Wicklow Mountains, the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, Connemara and Killarney), flowering will be delayed by two to three weeks. Flowering mainly occurs between May and July, with the limiting factors being less frost and more of the excessive humidity, strong winds and lack of sunshine that are characteristic of these areas.
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