Is Sweet William deer resistant?
Dianthus barbatus
Plant typeBiennialHardinessZones 3–9LightFull sunMature height12–24 inBloomSpring
MaintenanceLow, mostly leave it alone
Toxic to cats and dogs if eaten
About Sweet William
A biennial, so sow one year and flower the next, and let it self-sow to keep a run going. Dense flat heads in strong pinks and reds with a light clove scent. Wants alkaline sharp-drained soil.
Soil and care
- Soil pH
- 6.5 to 7.5
- Drainage
- Well drained
- Water
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 10 to 14 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low
Similar to Sweet William
Other biennials with the same deer rating.
Where Sweet William grows
Hardy across most of these 51 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- New York
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Virginia
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Wisconsin
- Ohio
- Indiana
- Illinois
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- Tennessee
- Georgia
- Texas
- Colorado
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
- Maine
- Rhode Island
- Delaware
- West Virginia
- Kentucky
- South Carolina
- Florida
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- Louisiana
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- Iowa
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Idaho
- Utah
- Nevada
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Alaska
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
Browse from here
Every list Sweet William belongs to.
Hardy in these zones
Common questions about Sweet William
- Is Sweet William deer resistant?
- Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) is rated Seldom Severely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Light browsing at worst; rarely ruined.
- What hardiness zones does Sweet William grow in?
- Sweet William is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
- Does Sweet William grow in shade?
- No. Sweet William wants full sun and will grow thin and flop in shade.
- How big does Sweet William get?
- Mature height is roughly 12–24 in. Growth rate is moderate.
- Is Sweet William toxic to dogs or cats?
- Yes. The ASPCA lists Sweet William as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Site it away from where animals graze, or choose something else if you have a dog that chews.