Dianthus barbatus subsp. barbatus

Sweet-william, Sweet-William

Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: perennial · Not Native

Sweet-william is a naturalized perennial herb found in northwestern California, the California Ranges, and central coastal areas in disturbed areas at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from spring to early summer, this plant produces white to pink, purple, or violet flowers, sometimes two-colored, in dense terminal clusters with many flowers. Growing 30 to 60 centimeters tall with a stout rhizome, it has both basal and cauline lanceolate leaves. Its leaves range from oblanceolate at the base to narrower lanceolate leaves along the stem, creating a varied foliage profile. The flower clusters feature bracts that are mostly as long as or longer than the calyx tube, with acute to short-tapered lobes that frame the delicate, multi-colored petals.

Habitat: Disturbed areas

Bloom period: Spring-early summer

Elevation: < 1500 m

Bioregions: NW, CaRF, CCo

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.