Sweet William Dianthus 'Hazel Ruth' (b)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

The Dianthus 'Hazel Ruth' is a small perennial commonly known as the 'Cottage Pink.' This particular variant is famed for its striking and densely packed flowers that exude a spicy, clove-like fragrance. The blooms are a standout feature, showcasing a rich array of pinks that add to the plant's ornamental appeal. The edge of the petals is finely serrated, which gives them a delicate fringed look as if carefully trimmed with pinking shears. This plant's foliage forms a neat, low mound, with slim, bluish-green leaves that provide a lovely contrast to the vivid flowers. The leaves have a linear shape and are compactly arranged, contributing to the plant's tidy and attractive appearance. The overall visual impression of the Dianthus 'Hazel Ruth' is one of classic garden charm and romantic appeal, making it a favorite among gardeners seeking to add a splash of color and fragrance to their flower beds or borders.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Synonyms
  Hazel Ruth Carnation, Hazel Ruth Sweet William
- Common names
  Dianthus 'Hazel Ruth'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  Dianthus, commonly known as Carnation, is generally not considered toxic to humans. Ingesting parts of the plant is unlikely to cause serious poisoning, but it can potentially cause mild gastrointestinal distress, such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea in some individuals if ingested in significant quantities.
- To pets
  Carnation is also considered to be of low toxicity to pets. While it is not typically poisonous, ingestion can sometimes lead to mild gastrointestinal upset in animals, including symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea. It is always best to discourage pets from eating plants, as individual reactions can vary.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Evergreen
- Color of leaves
  Blue-green
- Flower color
  Pink
- Height
  0-1 feet (0-0.3 meters)
- Spread
  0-1 feet (0-0.3 meters)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  3-9
- Native area
  Europe

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attractive Flowers: The Dianthus 'Hazel Ruth' is known for its beautiful, deeply colored flowers that can enhance the visual appeal of any garden or landscape.
- Long Blooming Season: It typically has a long flowering period, offering vibrant colors for an extended time.
- Low Maintenance: Once established, this perennial plant requires relatively low maintenance, which makes it suitable for gardeners of all levels.
- Drought Tolerance: It has a degree of drought tolerance, making it suitable for areas that experience water scarcity or for gardeners who prefer low-water-use gardens.
- Pest Resistance: Dianthus 'Hazel Ruth' often exhibits good resistance to many common garden pests, reducing the need for chemical interventions.
- Fragrance: The flowers exude a pleasant fragrance which can add an aromatic dimension to gardens and landscapes.
- Cut Flowers: Their strong stems and long-lasting blooms make these flowers an excellent choice for bouquets and indoor arrangements.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Dianthus 'Hazel Ruth' can be used in potpourri for its fragrance; the petals, when dried, retain a subtle scent that can freshen up drawers and closets.
- The petals of Dianthus 'Hazel Ruth', being edible, can be used to add color to cocktails or ice cubes for a decorative touch in drinks.
- Its vibrant flowers can be pressed and included in personalized stationary or bookmarks for a touch of natural beauty.
- These flowers can be used as a natural dye for fabrics, offering a range of pink hues depending on the mordant used.
- The blooms can be floated in bowls of water to create simple yet elegant table centerpieces for events or dining.
- The numerous flowers of the Sweet William can be used in crafting, such as making scented sachets to hang or place in drawers.
- Use the blooms for a natural confetti at weddings or celebrations, as they are biodegradable and more eco-friendly than synthetic options.
- Colorful Dianthus petals can be used in artwork, such as eco-printing where the natural shapes and colors leave impressions on paper or fabric.
- These flowers can add aesthetic appeal to a rain garden, which is designed to improve water quality by capturing runoff.
- Petals of Dianthus 'Hazel Ruth' can be incorporated into homemade candles, embedding a slice of their charm and fragrance.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Carnation is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Carnation is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Love: Dianthus is often associated with love due to its enduring and vibrant blooms, which symbolize a love that is timeless and passionate.
- Boldness: The striking and vivid colors of the Dianthus 'Hazel Ruth' signify boldness and challenge us to embrace our individuality and stand out.
- Admiration: Gifting this flower is a way to express deep admiration and respect for someone, as its beauty is widely recognized and appreciated.
- Devotion: The Dianthus' ability to bloom in a variety of conditions reflects a deep level of commitment and devotion, making it a symbol of fidelity and dedication.
- Purity: The brightness of the Dianthus 'Hazel Ruth' petals often represent clarity and purity of emotion, conveying a straightforward, unadulterated affection.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

10000 - 20000 Lux

Light

💦️

40%

Humidity

🪴

Every 1-2 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Carnations should be watered thoroughly once a week, ensuring that the soil is moist but not saturated. It's best to water in the morning, which allows the foliage to dry before the cooler evening temperatures, reducing the risk of disease. During hot, dry spells, you may need to water the carnations twice a week. Provide approximately one inch of water each time, which for a small garden area amounts to about 0.62 gallons per square yard. Always avoid overhead watering to minimize risk of leaf spot diseases.
Light
Carnations thrive in full sunlight, which means they should receive at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. The ideal spot for the plant would be in a south-facing garden where it can enjoy uninterrupted light. Partial shade is acceptable, especially in the hottest regions, but too much shade will reduce blooming and may cause the plant to become leggy.
Temperature
Carnations prefer cooler temperatures and can generally withstand short periods of frost. They thrive in a temperature range of 60-70°F during the day and 50-60°F at night. The maximum temperature should not exceed 85°F, and they should not be subjected to temperatures below 20°F, which can be harmful. Providing good air circulation can help manage temperatures during hot periods.
Pruning
Prune carnations to promote bushier growth and to remove dead or spent flowers, which encourages further blooming. Pruning should be done in the early spring by cutting back the plants to about 6 inches tall, and again after the first wave of blooms to tidy the plant and stimulate a second bloom period. Deadheading, or removing faded flowers, should be done regularly throughout the blooming season.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Sweet William prefers well-draining and slightly alkaline soil with a pH of 6.75 to 7.5. A mix of loam, compost, and a little sand to improve drainage makes an ideal soil blend for Dianthus 'Hazel Ruth'.
Repotting
Sweet William should be repotted every 2-3 years or when it outgrows its current container, to refresh the soil and encourage healthy growth.
Humidity & Misting
Sweet William thrives in average humidity levels; excessive humidity can promote fungal diseases, so good air circulation is important.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in bright light, water moderately, and ensure good airflow.
- Outdoor
  Plant in full sun to part shade, in well-drained soil.
- Hardiness zone
  3-9 USDA
Life cycle
Dianthus 'Hazel Ruth', also known as Sweet William, begins its life stage as a seed which, once sown, germinates within a span of 7-14 days under the right conditions of warmth and moisture. The seedling stage follows, where it develops true leaves and establishes a small root system. As it enters the vegetative stage, the plant grows stems and more leaves, forming a compact bush and preparing for flowering. The flowering stage occurs when the Sweet William produces clusters of fragrant flowers, typically in late spring to early summer, attracting pollinators and potentially lasting until fall in cooler climates. After pollination, the flowers develop into seed pods during the reproductive stage, which, when mature, release seeds for the continuation of the species. Finally, as a perennial, the plant may enter a dormancy stage during the winter, preserving its root system and base foliage, to regrow and restart the cycle the following spring.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- The Dianthus 'Hazel Ruth', commonly known as a variety of carnation or pink, can be propagated most popularly through stem cuttings. This method is favored because it tends to preserve the characteristics of the parent plant in the offspring. The optimal time to take stem cuttings for propagation is late spring to early summer when the plant is actively growing. A healthy non-flowering stem should be selected and cut just below a leaf node, typically 4 to 6 inches (about 10 to 15 centimeters) in length. The lower leaves are then removed, and the cut end may be dipped in a rooting hormone to encourage root growth. The cutting is then placed in a well-draining soil mix and kept moist until roots have developed, usually within a few weeks, after which it can be transplanted to a more permanent location.