sweet william

American  

Or sweet William

noun

1. a pink, Dianthus barbatus, having clusters of small, variously colored flowers.

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sweet william British  

noun

1. a widely cultivated Eurasian caryophyllaceous plant, Dianthus barbatus, with flat clusters of white, pink, red, or purple flowers

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Etymology

Origin of sweet william

First recorded in 1555–65

Example Sentences

Next comes the wild geranium cranes bill, but as its petals fall rapidly, it is not as effective as sweet william, which will be a mass of delicate bloom for five weeks or more.

From Mother's Remedies Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remedies from Mothers of the United States and Canada by Ritter, Thomas Jefferson

There's going to be lady-slippers over there," Miss Ainslie went on, "and sweet william.

From Lavender and Old Lace by Reed, Myrtle

And nowhere do wide bottom-lands wave and sing in such seemly grace, so decked with yellow flowers, with odd sweet william and the small wild rose.

From The Singing Mouse Stories by Hough, Emerson

On the east and south of this most exquisite picture are Iceland poppies, red pyrethrums, and here and there are clumps of dark red sweet william.

From Trees, Fruits and Flowers of Minnesota, 1916 Embracing the Transactions of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society,Volume 44, from December 1, 1915, to December 1, 1916, Including the Twelve Numbers of "The Minnesota Horticulturist" for 1916 by Latham, A. W.

The gardens, too, contain flowers that Betty Washington must have enjoyed—bushes of lilac, mock orange, and bridal wreath and beds of pansies, sweet william, phlox, verbena and lilies of the valley.

From Legends of the Skyline Drive and the Great Valley of Virginia by Northington, Etta Belle Walker