Grow a garden filled with colorful, Sweet William Wildflowers from fresh Dianthus barbatus wildflower seeds. Sweet William is an heirloom wildflower that produces carpets of gorgeous flowers in shades of white, pink & red. The plants themselves will grow to a mature height of roughly 12 to 24 inches tall and can flower the first season if started early enough. Sweet William will attract an array of beneficial insects to the garden, such as butterflies, bumblebees, ladybugs, hummingbirds and more. Categorized as a tender perennial, Sweet William will establish a deep root system, allowing the plants to grow the first year, later wilting with the first frost. After the cold frost has passed, the plants will reemerge the following season. If winters are too harsh however, some plants may die. Quick Facts Dianthus barbatus Type: Flower Color: Mixture Height: 12" - 24" Tall Width: 12" Spread Season: Annual / Tender Perennial Zones: 3 to 9 Environment: Full sun Sowing The Seed Sweet William is extremely easy to establish from freshly harvested wildflower seed. Prior to sowing, make sure that you remove all unwanted plant life from the sowing area, turning the dirt, or replacing it with fresh, new soil. You can then begin scattering your Sweet William seeds to the surface of the soil, covering them thinly with 1/16" of topsoil. they require a bit of direct lighting to properly germinate, so don't burry them to deep. Growing Conditions Sweet William wildflowers will enjoy an area of full sunlight for the majority of the day. Temperatures should be kept at roughly 60F to 70F for optimal growth. The soil should be rich in organic matter and will also need to be well drained. Adding a light compost to areas of hard, compact soil will increase your drainage. Water daily with a light mist setting so that the seeds and plants are moist but not soaked. Germination & Growth Your Sweet William seeds will begin to germinate within roughly 7 to 21 days after sowing. The plants will reach a mature height of 12 to 24 inches tall and can take up about 10 to 12 inches of width. Space the plants about 12 inches apart for best coverage. Sweet William is a lovely perennial flowering plant that will blossom through the summer months up until fall. Its gorgeous blooms will attract an array of beneficial insects.