23 June 2015

Do-It-Yourself Flower Tips and Inspiration - # 8 - Sweet William Flowers


Pink Sweet William


This time 'Do-It-Yourself  Flower Tips and Inspiration' is all about Sweet William flowers.

Pink Sweet William

  • Sweet William is the common name - the botanical name of the flowers in Latin/Greek is Dianthus barbatus.
  • It's in the Caryophyllacae family commonly called the pink or carnation family .
  • The first part of the name comes from the Greek di or dios meaning god or divine - referring to the Greek gods. The second part of the name anthos means flower.

  • Barbatus means bearded or hairy as a small part of the flower has tiny hairs.
  • Sweet William is an old-fashioned cottage garden favourite and have been grown in Britain for hundreds of years.
  • The flowers has a lovely clove-like scent.

  • The Duchess of Cambridge had white Sweet William in her wedding bouquet when she got married to Prince William in 2011. Kate chose the flower as a tribute to her bridegroom.
  • They come in many colours - white, pink, red, purple as well as many variegated colours.
  • The flowers attracts bees and butterflies. 
  • The flowers are edible and have a peppery, clove like flavour and can be used in salads. 
  • Cut stems between the nodes for maximum water uptake.
  • They are long-lasting - about 5-10 days - and are great value for money. 


The flowers are British and grown by the brilliant Cel Robertson at Forever Green Flower Company.

I made a little bouquet entirely made up of different light pink Sweet Williams. I made a fabric ribbon from a piece of fabric in similar pink tones and tied that around the stems and I used a vintage pink jug as my vase. 

My bright pink creation for the month of June - even though it's cold and rainy here in London.

Pink Sweet William


Enjoy your flower arranging!


Have a Great Floral Day!

I will see you later in the week with more Do-It-Yourself flowers from 'Of Spring and Summer'.

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

[Styling and Photography © Ingrid Henningsson - Of Spring and Summer]
[Flowers from Forever Green Flower Company.]

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1 comment:

Janneke said...

Lovely Sweet Williams, I have them in the garden but until now no time to make a bouquet.

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