Dart™ Purple Dianthus

Dart™ Purple is an upright, compact Sweet William with purple flower clusters. PanAmerican Seed identifies this Dianthus barbatus selection as PAS1514677 and lists a mature size of 6–12 inches high by 6–8 inches wide. ## Garden use The purple heads suit small borders, patio pots and cut-flower planting. Ball describes the Dart plants as compact, successful in cooler garden conditions and not needing staking in beds; the series is offered in a range of pot sizes. This is a biennial or short-lived perennial that is often grown as an annual, so gardeners may use it as a seasonal color block or allow some plants to set seed. [PanAmerican Seed](https://www.panamseed.com/Products/022509905004341/dianthus-dart-purple/) · [Ball Seed](https://info.ballseed.com/PlantInfo/?phid=022509905004341) ## Growing conditions Give it sun and soil that drains well. Loam and sand are listed soil textures for Sweet William, and a sunny, well-drained site helps prevent crown problems. In hot-summer climates, partial afternoon shade can help the species. The supplier lists flowering windows from early spring through late summer and autumn; outdoor timing varies with climate and planting schedule. [RHS](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/105495/dianthus-barbatus/details) · [NC State Extension](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/dianthus-barbatus/common-name/sweet-william/) ## Maintenance Keep moisture moderate without leaving the root zone wet. Remove spent flower heads as needed to tidy the planting and limit seed set; leave healthy foliage in place while it remains attractive. No staking is normally needed for the compact Dart habit in garden beds.