Sweet William Hollandia Formula Mix seeds - Dianthus barbatus

The Sweet William or Dianthus barbatus 'Hollandia Formula Mix' offers a generous mix of bi-coloured flowers. In summer, flowers bloom in dense and colourful hemispherical heads in various shades of white, pink, purple, red, and crimson, in assorted duos. The small flowers inflorescences of this Dianthus are eye-catching in the garden. Their vibrant colour harmoniously stands out against the glaucous green foliage creating a visually appealing contrast. Easy to grow in moist, rich, well-drained soil in full sun, it can also be planted in a pot. In addition to brightening up borders, this dianthus make charming scented cut flowers.

Dianthus is a member of the Caryophyllaceae family, like the graceful gypsophila, campions, soapworts, or other Lychnis. The Dianthus genus comprises nearly 300 species, most of which are widespread in Europe and Asia. The sweet william, Dianthus barbatus, is native to Europe, from the Pyrenees to Poland, as well as European Turkey, and has naturalised from northern Asia to China.
Cultivated in gardens since at least the 16th century, it is a short-lived but hardy plant, often considered biennial, flowering in the second year after sowing. 'Hollandia Formula Mix' can also be treated as an annual; sowing it early in the season will produce flowers in the same year. This dianthus quickly forms a very tight basal tuft of long, pointed light to glaucous green leaves. It reaches a height of 45 to 50 cm in flower and a width of about thirty centimetres. Flowering typically begins in June and continues until August. The small, 2 to 3 cm in diameter flowers are grouped in cymes that form domes of 8 to 15 cm in diameter, carried on thin, sturdy stems. Mostly bi-coloured, the flowers combine white with pink, red, purple, or crimson, creating a very ornamental colour scheme. They are also pleasantly scented and can be used as cut flowers to make stunning indoor bouquets.

The sweet william is an easy-to-grow plant, requiring little maintenance once established. With its romantic look, it blends wonderfully with Columbines, whose delicate flowers offer a wide range of colours. Dicentra Pink Diamond or Briza media, a light grass with purple spikelets, also make beautiful companions to create bucolic scenes and elegant bouquets. Grown in a pot on a terrace or balcony, the sweet william fully reveals its fragrance, provided good drainage and regular watering are maintained, along with some fertiliser supplements.