Sweet William Dianthus 'Bailey's Daily Mail' (p)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Dianthus 'Bailey's Daily Mail' is a charming plant known for its bright and colorful appearance. This plant typically showcases a profusion of flowers perched atop slender yet sturdy stems. The flowers themselves are what really catch the eye; they often exhibit a vibrant array of colors, with pink being one of the most common hues. The petals are usually fringed or serrated, giving them a somewhat ruffled look that adds to the overall appeal of the Dianthus. These petals might sometimes have varying patterns such as a darker or lighter eye, streaks, or even speckles. The bloom typically presents a sweet and spicy fragrance that is quite pleasant and can add an aromatic quality to the surrounding area. The foliage of the Dianthus 'Bailey's Daily Mail' consists of narrow leaves that have a blue-green to grey-green color. The texture of the leaves is quite grassy, adding a contrasting backdrop to the radiant blooms. The leaves form a clump or tuft-like base from which the flower stems arise. The overall aspect is one of a compact, bushy plant, with the aesthetic leaning towards a cottage garden style that many gardeners admire for its natural, easy-going beauty.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Caryophyllaceae
- Synonyms
  Sweet William
- Common names
  Dianthus 'Bailey's Daily Mail'
Toxicity
- To humans
  Carnations, the common name for Dianthus 'Bailey's Daily Mail', are generally considered non-toxic to humans. Ingestion of parts of this plant typically does not lead to poisoning or severe adverse effects. However, sensitive individuals may experience mild gastrointestinal discomfort if parts of the plant are ingested.
- To pets
  Carnations, the common name for Dianthus 'Bailey's Daily Mail', are generally considered to be of low toxicity to pets. However, ingestion of flowers or leaves by pets, notably cats and dogs, can sometimes result in mild gastrointestinal upset, such as vomiting or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually not severe, but it is still advisable to encourage pets to avoid ingesting this plant.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Evergreen
- Color of leaves
  Blue-green
- Flower color
  Varies
- Height
  1 foot (0.3 meters)
- Spread
  1 foot (0.3 meters)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  7
- Native area
  Europe

Benefits

General Benefits
- Ornamental Appeal: Adds vibrant color and visual interest to gardens and landscapes with its attractive flowers.
- Easy to Grow: Known for being low-maintenance, requiring minimal care to thrive.
- Long Blooming Season: Provides a long season of blooms, offering color from late spring to early autumn.
- Drought Resistance: Once established, it can tolerate periods of dry weather, reducing the need for frequent watering.
- Attracts Pollinators: Flowers can attract butterflies and bees, promoting biodiversity in the garden.
- Compact Size: Suitable for small gardens or container planting due to its compact growth habit.
- Cut Flowers: Stems can be cut and used for fresh floral arrangements, adding fragrance and beauty indoors.
- Cold Hardy: Capable of withstanding cooler temperatures, making it a good choice for various climates.
- Versatile Uses: Can be used in beds, borders, rock gardens, and as ground cover, providing flexibility in garden design.
- Deer Resistant: Less likely to be damaged by deer, making it an ideal choice for areas with deer populations.
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
- Potpourri Ingredient: The petals of the Sweet William can be dried and added to potpourri mixes for a pleasant fragrance in your home.
- Culinary Garnish: Sweet William flowers are edible and can be used to add a splash of color and mild spicy flavor as a garnish in salads and desserts.
- Natural Fabric Dyes: The flowers can be used to create natural dyes for coloring fabrics in shades of pink or red.
- Art Supplies: Children can use the sturdy stems and blossoms for crafting, such as creating floral brushes for painting.
- Photography Subject: Sweet William's vibrant colors make it a popular choice for floral and garden photography.
- Scented Sachets: Dried flowers can be placed in small sachets to impart a pleasant scent to drawers and closets.
- Garden Borders: They can be planted to create vibrant, low borders along pathways or garden beds.
- Bath Additive: Petals can be sprinkled into a bath for a luxury, spa-like experience with a gentle aroma.
- Floral Arrangements: Sweet William can be used as a filler flower in bouquets and arrangements for events and home décor.
- Insectary Plants: The flowers can attract and support beneficial insects in the garden, such as bees and butterflies.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Sweet William is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Sweet William is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Love: Dianthus, commonly known as "carnation" or "pink," often symbolizes love and fascination. The term "dianthus" was coined by Greek botanist Theophrastus and is derived from the combination of 'dios' (godly) and 'anthos' (flower), referring to the divine beauty of the flower that is linked to deep affection.
- Fascination: Carnations carry the meaning of fascination, especially new love and admiration. This can be attributed to the flower's intricate patterns and variety of colors that captivate observers.
- Distinction: The unique and distinguished appearance of the Dianthus flower also conveys a sense of distinction and uniqueness, lending it to be gifted as a symbol of pride or individuality.
- Pure Love: White varieties of Dianthus, relating thematically to white carnations, are a symbol of pure love and good luck. This makes them a common choice for wedding bouquets and ceremonial occasions.
- Gratitude: Light red Dianthus are often associated with admiration and gratitude. They are commonly given as a sign of thanks or appreciation due to their uplifting appearance and connotations.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

500 - 2500 Lux

Light

💦️

50%

Humidity

🪴

Every 1-2 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-early summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Sweet William should be watered deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out somewhat between waterings. It's best to avoid overhead watering to prevent fungal diseases. As a guideline, provide about 1 inch of water per week, adjusting for rainfall and temperature conditions. In hot, dry weather, you may need to water twice a week, while in cooler, moist conditions, watering once every 10 days may suffice. Use gallons to measure, ensuring consistent moisture without waterlogging the plant.
Light
Sweet William thrives in full sunlight to part shade. The best spot for this plant is where it can receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Places with morning sun and afternoon shade are ideal for hotter climates to prevent scorching.
Temperature
Sweet William prefers a temperate climate with temperatures ranging from 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. They can survive short periods outside this range but extended exposure to temperatures below 20 degrees or above 85 degrees Fahrenheit can be detrimental. The ideal temperature for optimal growth and flowering is within this temperate range.
Pruning
Pruning Sweet William is essential for promoting bushier growth and abundant blooms. Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage new blooms. Perform a more thorough pruning in late summer or early fall to remove old stems and tidy up the plant. Pruning is typically done annually or as needed to maintain shape and health.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The Sweet William prefers well-draining, loamy soil that is rich in organic matter with a pH range of 6.0 to 7.5. A soil mix to consider could be three parts garden soil, one part compost, and one part perlite or sand to ensure good drainage.
Repotting
Sweet William doesn't typically require frequent repotting and can be repotted every 2 to 3 years or as needed when it outgrows its current pot.
Humidity & Misting
Sweet William thrives in moderate humidity levels around 40-50%, avoiding overly humid conditions which can promote fungal diseases.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  For Sweet William, provide bright light and cool temps indoors.
- Outdoor
  Plant Sweet William in part-full sun, in well-draining soil.
- Hardiness zone
  Sweet William is suited for USDA zones 3-9.
Life cycle
Dianthus 'Bailey's Daily Mail', commonly known as Bailey's Daily Mail Pink, starts its life as a seed, which germinates in warm, well-drained soil, typically in early spring. Once the seedling emerges, the plant enters a vegetative state, developing a foliage of narrow leaves while establishing a strong root system. As it matures during this vegetative phase, it begins to form flower buds in response to increasing daylight hours or particular temperature conditions. The peak of its life cycle is the flowering stage, where vibrant flowers bloom, offering visual appeal and attracting pollinators for reproduction. After pollination occurs, the plant produces seed capsules, which when mature, release seeds, completing the reproductive cycle. As a perennial, Bailey's Daily Mail Pink may die back to the ground at the end of the growing season in colder climates, but it will re-sprout from its root system when conditions become favorable again.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-early summer
- Propogation: The most popular method for propagating Dianthus 'Bailey's Daily Mail', commonly known as pinks, is through softwood cuttings. This is typically done in late spring or early summer when the plant's growth is most vigorous. To propagate by cuttings, a gardener would select healthy, non-flowering stems and cut a 3 to 4-inch (approximately 7.5 to 10 cm) section just below a node. The lower leaves are removed, and the cut end can be dipped into a rooting hormone powder to encourage root development. The cutting is then inserted into a well-draining soil mix and kept moist under indirect light. Roots usually develop within a few weeks, after which the new plants can be gradually acclimated to outdoor conditions and eventually transplanted to their permanent location in the garden.