Sweet William

I know they're grown as biennials but the ones I had last year are still going strong and look like they might be up for growing more this year. Does that happen? I only want to know as they're taking up valuable space in the border and there are so many other things I could put there instead...but if they will bloom again...

Anyone got any opinions?

 

Without having any special knowledge of Sweet Williams, I would agree with Woo. I used to think that biennial specifically meant two years, but I think that many plants classed as biennial can also be short lived perennials. And as Woo said deadheading them makes them more perennial. Christopher Lloyd wrote about this in his books and said that he only came round to this realisation late in life.

 

agree with both posts...lots of biennials will go for years when dead headed, foxgloves good example, but as woo said they dont look quite as showy, for foxgloves in a woodland area this aint too much of a problem, in a border in a prime spot it may be?

 

I deadheaded them last year after flowering. They look a bit scraggy as well.

Oh sod it, I have them in several locations AND I have 'fresh' ones planted last autumn. The ones that are in the prime location in the border will get taken out...maybe replaced with the Gaillardia I've just sown:D

Thanks guys.

 

I grew some in the garden a few years ago and never bothered digging them up and was able to keep them going for three years before they finally gave up the ghost:p.Never new that bit about the flower heads though so thanks for that Woo:gnthb: