Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Purple Barbarini™ Dianthus, Purple Barbarini™ Sweet William, Purple Picotee, or Dianthus Barbarini Purple, is a richly colored, easy-to-grow, summer-blooming biennial with aromatic blooms of magenta and purple with contrasting white eyes. It is a dwarf hybrid strain whose show-stopping clusters of bright, fringed flowers are only part of its appeal. It grows from 6 to 8 inches high with a spread of 6 to 9 inches. It is self-seeding and works as a cut flower in arrangements and bouquets.
Native to Europe and Asia, Purple Barbarini™ Dianthus is a classic cottage garden plant known for its excellent texture and bright colors. It attracts butterflies and is rabbit resistant. When planted en masse, it has a remarkable fragrance that will sweeten your summer days. It is a perfect addition to any pot or container and works well as a ‘filler’. Exercise caution, as it is toxic to dogs and cats if ingested.
Purple Barbarini™ Dianthus Care
Purple Barbarini™ Dianthus prefers full to partial sun. It is adaptable and hardy and works in most types of soil, so long as it has good drainage. Avoid over-watering your Sweet William as it can rot away delicate roots. It will need adequate airflow to thrive.
You should prune back your Purple Barbarini™ Dianthus after it has finished blooming to help it grow stronger the following year. You may need to apply a broad spectrum fungicide to avoid crown and root rot.
Purple Barbarini™ Dianthus Spacing
Purple Barbarini™ Dianthus works beautifully in containers and pots of all kinds. They are ideal for rock gardens and edging borders. They should be spaced 6 to 12 inches apart when planting and look especially beautiful in the front of gardens.
Purple Barbarini™ Dianthus Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 5 to 8 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Part Shade to Full Sun (3+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 6-11 Inches
- Mature Spread
- 6-11 Inches
- Growth Habit
- , Mounded
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , Purple
- Flower Description
- Vivid Purple
- Bloom Time
- Spring to Summer
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Green
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Spring Flowering, Summer Flowering
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Purple Barbarini™ Dianthus
- Botanical Name
- DIANTHUS 'BARBARINI PURPLE'
- Plant Type
- Perennial
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!